Chapter 9: It Doesn't Seem Right, Does It?
Bein agreed to help Gene and his friends as a matter of principle, at least for the time being. He wasn't about to give Diet Club the satisfaction of being responsible for the death of the man who was voted "Most Likely To Live Under An Overpass."
After leaving the Potter Library, Bein told his new allies about a room in his family's apartment devoted to scientific experiments, and about a machine he co-created while he was in Novartis, which could analyze the chemical composition of any substance. Gene knew he could use it to discover what poison was in the Diet Club's pills.
The group arrived at the Hershbrads' apartment. "The 'rents are at work now, but I have... the key to get us in!" Bein proudly brandished his house key, taking advantage of the fact that at this moment, he held Gene Rothman's existence in his hands.
Bein and his family lived in a place that basically resembled every other apartment in Manhasset, with one small difference: Every room was decorated with innumerable trophies, plaques, and medals that Bein had won over the years for his academic, scientific, and tennis accomplishments.
"You... play tennis?" Colin asked, surprised.
Bein shrugged it off. "Meh, it's easy. It's just like Pong, except you're the paddle."
Colin, Ceryle, and Leslie were all honor students, but the combined number of awards they possessed didn't even come close to Bein's. Gene and his friends were stunned. All they could do was look around the room, their mouths open in sheer awe.
Bein angrily turned around to face them. "Hey. Hey. Hey, hey, hey. You can close your mouths now. Insects'll fly in. Shall we go over to my secret laboratory now, or shall we stand here and stare at the products of my utter human perfection all day?" Bein was one of those people who said "la-BOR-atory" instead of "LAB-ra-tory."
And an impressive-looking la-BOR-atory it was. Odd-looking gadgets all over the place. Let's put it this way: if Dexter or Jimmy Neutron lived in Manhasset, they'd often stop by Bein's place for experiment-related ideas and ways to improve their tennis scores.
"Gimme one of your pills, Gene. I gotta run a test on it."
Gene always kept three pills and a small vial of salad dressing with him, just in case he found himself eating on the go. So he took a pill out of that very same plastic bag that Lyn gave to him, and Bein took it. He twisted the two halves of the capsule apart, and a white, powdery substance began spilling out of them.
"White powder... This can't be good..." Bein spilled some of the powder onto a thin plastic slide, and put the slide under a microscope.
"According to this microscope reading," Bein observed, "it appears these capsules are 100% powdered Cyastasia Toxifera extract."
Ceryle was shocked. She knew exactly what that was, and began to quote a passage from her report about poisonous plants. "Cyastasia Toxifera. Common name: Branchseed. A flowering plant that grows in Alberia's tropical regions, which yields an extremely poisonous sap. The poison is also found in the seeds, and provides a natural defense against animals and birds that try to eat them. The specific epithet, 'Toxifera,' literally means 'toxin-bearer' in Latin. Colin!"
Colin continued. "When particles of the Branchseed's poison are ingested or inhaled, severe diarrhea and vomiting always occur as symptoms. In some cases, the afflicted person may begin to suffer from hallucinations. In the vast majority of cases, the afflicted person will rapidly lose weight as a result of the two major symptoms, until he or she dies of dehydration. That is, unless a specific antidote is promptly administered. Let's bring this presentation home, Leslie!"
Leslie was the third and final presenter. "Scientists in the military-industrial complex have only recently begun to realize the uses of Branchseed in biological warfare operations. In the early days of Alberian history, warriors from forest tribes coated their blowdarts with Branchseed poison in order to incapacitate their enemies. In conclusion, the example of Branchseed just goes to show you that even in this age of advanced technology, Mother Nature is still as much of a ruthless killer as she always was! Yes! We are SO going to get an A+ on this presentation!"
Even Bein was impressed with the threesome's vast array of knowledge concerning this deadly plant. "Colin. Your presentation gave me the answer we need. We have to take Gene to the hospital and get the Branchseed antidote before it's too late!"
Ceryle smiled at Bein. "What a world we're living in... You seem awfully concerned about Gene, for someone who's been making his life miserable throughout high school..." Her eyes shifted to an unconscious Gene, who was lying face down on the laboratory floor.
Colin looked down. "He must have fallen down during our presentation!"
Leslie kneeled down and checked his pulse. "He's still alive, but barely. We need to get him to the hospital, and there's not much time left!"
Gene woke up with his head resting against a chunk of frozen rock. He was back in his own private ice cavern. A deep voice called to him. He looked around the cave, and saw that it was his "spirit animal" again.
"Gene. Gene Rothman. Can you hear me? I am the metaphysical essence of your soul."
Gene waved to the mysterious dog. "Hiya."
"Listen to me, Gene. Although your outer self has been severely damaged, your inner spirit has not yet perished. You are clinging to life because you have a firm belief in your heart that things will get better for you."
Transparent figures of Ceryle, Colin, Leslie, Murray, Sadie, Mindy, and Bein materialized around the O-shaped lake where the dog was standing in the center of.
The dog continued to speak. "These kind souls are here for you, and they always will be. They have known you since the outset, they have defended you when times were at their worst, and they have stood by you through all of your trials and ordeals. They are your friends, Gene."
"Even Bein?"
"Especially Bein," replied the dog. "For many years, he has hid behind a mask of anger and hate. But deep within his soul lies an enormous sense of decency, which he recently learned to use to his fullest. Why else would he have offered you his assistance in your greatest time of need?"
After the dog finished his sentence, the transparent figures melted into thin air. They were soon replaced by transparent figures of Rachel, Amy, and Maya.
"These are the three ladies that you originally viewed with derision and resentment, but when you learned their lives were tragically cut short by their own ambition to become more attractive, you discovered you had feelings for them. You made a solemn wish in your heart, that you could have watched them find true happiness in their later years."
The figures of the girls vanished.
"Truly, yours is a kind heart. You seek only what is right for the world. And it would be a bitter tragedy to watch someone die, especially with an unbreakable spirit like yours..."
Two transparent figures of Lyn appeared, representing the two sides of her persona. The left figure wore the characteristic white nurse's uniform, and the right figure wore the pink silk dress from the rooftop dinner.
The dog continued. "A spirit... that refused to be broken by anyone... even her."
The two Lyns vanished.
Gene took a step towards his canine spirit guide. "OK, that about covers every major figure in my life... except my parents. Where do they fit into all of this?"
"You wish to see them?" The dog asked. Gene nodded his head yes. "Very well," said the dog.
Transparent figures of Desmond and Molly appeared on opposite sides of the circular lake. Their arms were crossed and held high in front of their faces, shielding them from looking forward.
"Why are they covering their eyes?" Gene asked.
"It is a personality fault of theirs, and you should not be blamed for it. They have created a mental block around themselves, so they can only see all of your negative qualities and none of your positive ones. For whatever reason, they make no effort to dispel this mental block, because they somehow enjoy belittling you."
The figures of Gene's parents vanished.
Bein agreed to help Gene and his friends as a matter of principle, at least for the time being. He wasn't about to give Diet Club the satisfaction of being responsible for the death of the man who was voted "Most Likely To Live Under An Overpass."
After leaving the Potter Library, Bein told his new allies about a room in his family's apartment devoted to scientific experiments, and about a machine he co-created while he was in Novartis, which could analyze the chemical composition of any substance. Gene knew he could use it to discover what poison was in the Diet Club's pills.
The group arrived at the Hershbrads' apartment. "The 'rents are at work now, but I have... the key to get us in!" Bein proudly brandished his house key, taking advantage of the fact that at this moment, he held Gene Rothman's existence in his hands.
Bein and his family lived in a place that basically resembled every other apartment in Manhasset, with one small difference: Every room was decorated with innumerable trophies, plaques, and medals that Bein had won over the years for his academic, scientific, and tennis accomplishments.
"You... play tennis?" Colin asked, surprised.
Bein shrugged it off. "Meh, it's easy. It's just like Pong, except you're the paddle."
Colin, Ceryle, and Leslie were all honor students, but the combined number of awards they possessed didn't even come close to Bein's. Gene and his friends were stunned. All they could do was look around the room, their mouths open in sheer awe.
Bein angrily turned around to face them. "Hey. Hey. Hey, hey, hey. You can close your mouths now. Insects'll fly in. Shall we go over to my secret laboratory now, or shall we stand here and stare at the products of my utter human perfection all day?" Bein was one of those people who said "la-BOR-atory" instead of "LAB-ra-tory."
And an impressive-looking la-BOR-atory it was. Odd-looking gadgets all over the place. Let's put it this way: if Dexter or Jimmy Neutron lived in Manhasset, they'd often stop by Bein's place for experiment-related ideas and ways to improve their tennis scores.
"Gimme one of your pills, Gene. I gotta run a test on it."
Gene always kept three pills and a small vial of salad dressing with him, just in case he found himself eating on the go. So he took a pill out of that very same plastic bag that Lyn gave to him, and Bein took it. He twisted the two halves of the capsule apart, and a white, powdery substance began spilling out of them.
"White powder... This can't be good..." Bein spilled some of the powder onto a thin plastic slide, and put the slide under a microscope.
"According to this microscope reading," Bein observed, "it appears these capsules are 100% powdered Cyastasia Toxifera extract."
Ceryle was shocked. She knew exactly what that was, and began to quote a passage from her report about poisonous plants. "Cyastasia Toxifera. Common name: Branchseed. A flowering plant that grows in Alberia's tropical regions, which yields an extremely poisonous sap. The poison is also found in the seeds, and provides a natural defense against animals and birds that try to eat them. The specific epithet, 'Toxifera,' literally means 'toxin-bearer' in Latin. Colin!"
Colin continued. "When particles of the Branchseed's poison are ingested or inhaled, severe diarrhea and vomiting always occur as symptoms. In some cases, the afflicted person may begin to suffer from hallucinations. In the vast majority of cases, the afflicted person will rapidly lose weight as a result of the two major symptoms, until he or she dies of dehydration. That is, unless a specific antidote is promptly administered. Let's bring this presentation home, Leslie!"
Leslie was the third and final presenter. "Scientists in the military-industrial complex have only recently begun to realize the uses of Branchseed in biological warfare operations. In the early days of Alberian history, warriors from forest tribes coated their blowdarts with Branchseed poison in order to incapacitate their enemies. In conclusion, the example of Branchseed just goes to show you that even in this age of advanced technology, Mother Nature is still as much of a ruthless killer as she always was! Yes! We are SO going to get an A+ on this presentation!"
Even Bein was impressed with the threesome's vast array of knowledge concerning this deadly plant. "Colin. Your presentation gave me the answer we need. We have to take Gene to the hospital and get the Branchseed antidote before it's too late!"
Ceryle smiled at Bein. "What a world we're living in... You seem awfully concerned about Gene, for someone who's been making his life miserable throughout high school..." Her eyes shifted to an unconscious Gene, who was lying face down on the laboratory floor.
Colin looked down. "He must have fallen down during our presentation!"
Leslie kneeled down and checked his pulse. "He's still alive, but barely. We need to get him to the hospital, and there's not much time left!"
Gene woke up with his head resting against a chunk of frozen rock. He was back in his own private ice cavern. A deep voice called to him. He looked around the cave, and saw that it was his "spirit animal" again.
"Gene. Gene Rothman. Can you hear me? I am the metaphysical essence of your soul."
Gene waved to the mysterious dog. "Hiya."
"Listen to me, Gene. Although your outer self has been severely damaged, your inner spirit has not yet perished. You are clinging to life because you have a firm belief in your heart that things will get better for you."
Transparent figures of Ceryle, Colin, Leslie, Murray, Sadie, Mindy, and Bein materialized around the O-shaped lake where the dog was standing in the center of.
The dog continued to speak. "These kind souls are here for you, and they always will be. They have known you since the outset, they have defended you when times were at their worst, and they have stood by you through all of your trials and ordeals. They are your friends, Gene."
"Even Bein?"
"Especially Bein," replied the dog. "For many years, he has hid behind a mask of anger and hate. But deep within his soul lies an enormous sense of decency, which he recently learned to use to his fullest. Why else would he have offered you his assistance in your greatest time of need?"
After the dog finished his sentence, the transparent figures melted into thin air. They were soon replaced by transparent figures of Rachel, Amy, and Maya.
"These are the three ladies that you originally viewed with derision and resentment, but when you learned their lives were tragically cut short by their own ambition to become more attractive, you discovered you had feelings for them. You made a solemn wish in your heart, that you could have watched them find true happiness in their later years."
The figures of the girls vanished.
"Truly, yours is a kind heart. You seek only what is right for the world. And it would be a bitter tragedy to watch someone die, especially with an unbreakable spirit like yours..."
Two transparent figures of Lyn appeared, representing the two sides of her persona. The left figure wore the characteristic white nurse's uniform, and the right figure wore the pink silk dress from the rooftop dinner.
The dog continued. "A spirit... that refused to be broken by anyone... even her."
The two Lyns vanished.
Gene took a step towards his canine spirit guide. "OK, that about covers every major figure in my life... except my parents. Where do they fit into all of this?"
"You wish to see them?" The dog asked. Gene nodded his head yes. "Very well," said the dog.
Transparent figures of Desmond and Molly appeared on opposite sides of the circular lake. Their arms were crossed and held high in front of their faces, shielding them from looking forward.
"Why are they covering their eyes?" Gene asked.
"It is a personality fault of theirs, and you should not be blamed for it. They have created a mental block around themselves, so they can only see all of your negative qualities and none of your positive ones. For whatever reason, they make no effort to dispel this mental block, because they somehow enjoy belittling you."
The figures of Gene's parents vanished.
