TEN
Cole watched covertly as McCoy and Shoal entered the cage where Jezic was being held. Jezic lay on the floor unconscious from the gas McCoy had used. As Cole watch, McCoy knelt down and used the athame to make a cut on Jezic's forearm.
"Heal him," she whispered to Shoal.
"I can't. You know that. My healing ability won't affect demons."
"If I'm right, this should work. If he's a full demon nothing will happen. But if I'm right, you should be able to heal his human half. So you need to heal him and see how much, if any, will work on him."
"Interesting theory," said Ava as she and Piper watched the events. "I guess theoretically it could be possible."
"More than theoretically," said Piper. "I've seen it happen. Cole was injured once and we thought he was dying. Leo used his healing power and was only able to partially heal Cole. That was before we knew Cole was a demon. At first Leo was confused why he couldn't completely heal Cole."
"That's good to know," said Ava. "So Elizabeth is going to see if Martin can heal Jezic to find out if he's half human. That's pretty inventive."
"And it should work," said Piper.
They watched as Shoal held his hand over the cut on Jezic's cut. He activated his healing power and a soft yellow glow covered Jezic's arm. After a moment the glow stopped and Shoal looked up at McCoy.
"I can't heal him completely," whispered Shoal. "But I was able to heal part of him. He has to be a half breed. If he were fully demon my healing power wouldn't have had any effect."
McCoy and Shoal turned and left the room. When they enter the main room Cole appeared to be looking over some of McCoy's notes. As they entered the room he turned to them.
"Just thought I'd get a head start on the report to the medical authorities," he said. "I hope you don't mind."
"Not at all," replied McCoy. "Well, we've confirmed that Jezic is half human. That opens up some new possibilities. I've been attacking the problem as if it were simply a mutated demonic disease that affects humans. Since we now know that Jezic is also half human I have an idea for something that just might work."
"What do you need?" Shoal asked.
"A few hours alone," replied McCoy. "Mr. Turner, under the circumstance I think it's best if you leave. My research can be dangerous and I'd feel very bad if anything should happen. I'm sure you understand."
"Well, yeah, I guess so," said Cole nervously. "You have to work with a strain of the Spanish Flu to see if your idea works. Can't say I'd be very comfortable hanging around while you work with that. I'll just let myself out. I'll come back later. When it's safer."
Cole turned and hobbled out of the building. He quickly moved around to the same window he had used before to eavesdrop on McCoy and Shoal. As he peered in the window he saw McCoy remove a syringe from a desk drawer.
"I need a sample of your blood," she said. "Then I need you to get me a blood sample from Jezic while he's still unconscious."
"What good will my blood do?" Shoal asked. "We all ready know my healing power won't work on the disease. I've tried several times. It's always failed."
"What I have in mind just might work. We've been trying to use your healing power on the disease but obviously that won't work. But we've been trying to cure the disease from the outside, so to speak. I think I can create a potion that will attack it from the inside. But for that I need some of your blood. Your innate healing ability should bond with the cure allowing it to affect the disease."
"I think it's a long shot," said Shoal. "I don't see how it's going to make a difference."
"Your body is essentially a modified human body. If I can separate the human components from the blood I should have what essentially makes you a White Lighter. Your White Lighter essence, if you will. I can combine that with the cure I've been working on as the basis for a new potion. I'm pretty sure that will fight this disease."
"I don't see how that's going to make a difference," said Shoal. "I don't see any difference between that and my trying to heal someone."
"That's because you're not a doctor. Trust me on this one. The approach is going to work, I can feel it. Now, I need that blood sample from you. And I need a fresh sample from Jezic. If it works on him it should work on anyone who is infected with the disease as well."
Shoal just shrugged and began to roll up his sleeve so McCoy could take the blood sample.
"She may be on to something," Ava said. "Her approach could very well provide a cure for the disease. She's right when she says it will fight the disease from the inside. And the White Lighter essence as part of the base of the potion will make it effective even against magical beings."
"So she actually has a shot at finding a cure," said Piper.
"If she can distill the White Lighter essence from Martin, yes, I think she does. Which means I can use the same approach with the disease today. If her approach works I can use the same technique to create a potion for what Leo has."
"Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see if she's successful."
As Piper and Ava waited to see if McCoy's approach was going to work, they silently faded from the building.
"So, that's your entire plan?" Angelique questioned Cole. "I just dark orb in and kill the White Lighter? I expected more from you, Cole. You're becoming something of a legend with your elaborate plans. I thought there'd be more to it than that."
"Oh, trust me, there is," said Cole. "That's just your part of the plan. As I said, the Triad wants to make sure the witch and the White Lighter are dealt with so they can't pass on any information they may have learned from Jezic to their Elders."
"But you said Jezic hadn't told them anything."
"And you've never had anyone lie to you? Besides, the witch has been doing experiments on Jezic. She's trying to find a cure for the Spanish Flu but there's no telling what else she might have learned. Anything she may have learned about demon physiology could be potentially dangerous."
"Well, that's certainly true. You realize I'm still going to insist on full payment. Even if you are special."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," replied Cole, smiling at her. "This is business. The second rule of being a mercenary. Business is business. Never let personal relationships interfere with the job."
"Something I learned from you, lover. Of course, once the business is concluded that rule no longer applies."
"Okay. We'll only have one chance at this. Don't waste any time. Dark orb in and shoot the White Lighter immediately. While the witch is distracted with you, I'll strike. It could be dangerous. She has a rather formidable sonic attack. Lorsch found that out the hard way."
"Lorsch? You hired him? Why would you hire him to help you? He's not exactly one of the top mercenaries."
"I just needed him to complete a minor job for me. And he did fine. Because of his 'attack' on me the witch thought I was just another innocent. She came to my rescue immediately. Lorsch was a little the worse for wear for his ordeal but he'll survive. And he was paid quite well for his services."
"So, when do you want to do this?"
"I have to wait for the witch to come up with a cure to the disease first. Without it, the entire Underworld is at risk. This disease has spread all over the world. If she's successful, she'll need to make enough of the potion to cure everyone. And we'll need to get some of it to take to the Underworld."
"Enough potion to cure everyone in the world?" questioned Angelique. "I'm not sure she'll be capable of that with that little lab she has. It would have to be mass produced. That's going to take some major facilities. Any idea how long it will be before she's come up with this cure?"
"It shouldn't be long," said Cole. "She's all ready got an idea about how to produce the cure. I think in a few hours she'll have what she needs. That's when we'll strike. You'll have to be standing by so you can Dark Orb in when I give the signal."
"And just what is the signal?"
"I'll run my fingers through my hair," said Cole, demonstrating for her. "I'll be standing next to a window so you can see me. I'll make sure the White Lighter is on the other side of the room when I do. So you'll need to Dark Orb in there. When you do, the witch will obviously notice you. She'll turn to engage you to protect her White Lighter. When she does I'll be able to strike with total surprise."
"Very efficient. You kill the witch, I kill the White Lighter, and you free Jezic in one fell swoop. And you get the cure to boot. So, why waste it on the humans? Why not just take it to the Underworld so that they'll have the cure against this disease?"
"That's not an option. Diseases have a tendency to mutate in humans. If it mutates, the cure may not be effective on it. We have to make sure the disease is no longer a threat. In order to do that we have to make sure the humans are cured of it. I have no love for humans but in this instance the best way to protect the Underworld is to make sure the humans are protected as well."
"Okay. It seems you've thought of everything. And once the witch and White Lighter are dead we release Jezic."
"I'll take care of Jezic. He's my assignment, after all. You just worry about the White Lighter. And avoid the witch, if you can. Like you said, once the assignment is over, the rules of my profession no longer apply. When we're finished I plan to take a vacation in a place called Acapulco. And I would definitely like some company on that vacation."
"Well," said Angelique, putting her arms around Cole's neck, "that sounds like a lot of fun."
"Not now," said Cole, pulling her arms down. "When the job is finished. Not before."
"My, you do take your profession seriously."
"As serious as you take yours. Now, you need to get in place so you'll be ready. Once I give the signal don't waste any time. Dark orb in and take out the White Lighter. Then I can finish the witch."
"I'll see you there," said Angelique. She dark orbed out of the building.
"We need to warn Elizabeth and Martin," said Ava. "We can't just let him kill them. They won't be expecting it."
"We can't," said Piper. "Remember, we aren't really here. This is just a vision. Kind of like a movie, I guess. They can't even see or hear us. Besides, they both died over 80 years ago. So we have no chance of saving them."
"It doesn't seem right. Still, the lives of millions of people are at stake. I just wish there was something we could do, that's all."
"So do I," said Piper. "But there isn't. So we just need to watch and find out what Elizabeth does to create the cure. Leo is one of those millions. And I don't want to be a widow so soon after my wedding."
Silently the two faded from the room, moving on to the next phase of the vision.