CHAPTER 4
"The epitome of Freedom."
The limo came to a slow stop in front of a particularly dilapidated warehouse in the ghetto district of Washington DC. Billy had no time to assess his urroundings as he was forcefully oulled from the limo by his captors. Following close behind, more thugs shoved his father towards the forgotten husk of a building. The warehouse itself looked as foreboding as any villainous lair should. The broken windows leered down at Billy and his father like the eyes of a hungry monster, patiently awaiting its next meal. Around, the walking wounded and living dead of Washington DC's homeless population shuffled around the scene of obvious crime. They averted thier eyes and quickened thier pace. Billy thought to call out to one for help, but thier eyes revealed thier intentions to only watch, and not interfere.
Davis had chosen this place a long time ago. Here, his crimes went unnoticed by all. This forgotten stretch of road in the nation's capital had once been a center of industry and commerce. Hard times had not been kind to it however, and when the industry forsook the town and it's inhabitants, Davis was quick to swoop in and purchase many of the businesses for a song. The many sex shops and liquor stores provided not only cover fronts for his more depraved business practices, but also with a steady stream of hollow vessels that were once people. They were more than happy to piss away any meager wealth they had, and any semblance of pride, to deaden the pain that is life in the street. A few moment's peace, Billy Andross would have welcomed.
But there would be none, as the jackbooted goons of Senator Henry Davis shoved father and son into the corpse of the once profitable DC Millworks. Once, this was the largest maker of doors and windows in the District of Columbia. The company employed hundreds, but now many of these former employees had just turned thier backs on a helpless child and his beaten father.
Senator James Andross struggled with his captors, to no avail, as the black-suited men forced him into a nearby chair. The chair was not the only furniture in the building. The chair sat directly across from a table. But this was no ordinary table. The table could more accurately be called a torture device. A cold slab of steel, adorned with restraints made of tough leather distinguished this gruesome device. Right angles, sharpened corners, they only added to the table's effectiveness for causing fear, thru sheer uncaring, unfeeling symmetry. The table's most distinguishing feature, was the dried, browinish stains across its surface. Human blood, aged and unclean, revealed this table's intentions and purpose.
Davis bent low in front of Senator Andross, and pulled from his pocket a small syringe. The syringe glowed with a purplish-green light. Davis held it close, and though the syringe seemed to be radiating heat, no warmth could be felt. James became aware of it's presence, and looking close, he could almost see the liquid within swirling of its own volition
Davis, whispering low, revealed its contents. "The people at Crey Industries call it 'Formula 9-GX.' Not a very appealing name is it?" Davis stood, and paced the room, continuing his discussion of the horrifying syringe as if addressing the Senate floor. He spoke with a quiet reverence for the drug. "I think after its initial trial run with ape subjects, the scientists who developed it began referring to it as "The Cthulu Serum". Do you know Lovecraft, James? He's a wonderful writer, a pity you will not get to read anything after tonight."
James, sensing an opportunity, began to move toward Davis. The goons were faster, however, and with a quick jab to the solar plexus, James was forced back into the chair. Gasping for breath, he spat thru bloody lips, "Killing me isn't going to help you, Davis! The evidence will be found, and you'll all be brought up for treason!"
Davis smiled and gazed upon the syringe. With a harsh laugh, he replied, "Now, James. Who said this syringe was for you?"
James' eyes widened in panic at the implication of those words, and almost in answer, the goons moved Billy towards the table. James began to fight at the chair, and was surprised to see that he had been bound to the seat with thick leather bands while his attention was on Davis. James gritted his teeth, and forced his body to fight the restraints. His son, meanwhile, struggled with the men who held him hostage. Billy, kicking and screaming, fought with all the strength in his small frame. The goons found themselves surprised by Billy's sudden assault, and two more men were needed to force him down onto the table. Even as the straps were lashed down on Billy's wrists and ankles, he continued to struggle, as did James Andross. Both fought to save the other. Both fought to see the other live.
Davis, standing before his prey, finished his lecture. "This drug was developed for a defense contract for a black-book operation known as the Enkidu Directive. It's a super soldier serum, James! Just like in the comics! But alas, it was named te Cthulu Serum for one very good reason. You see, in Lovecraftian fiction, the Elder God Cthulu was a demon of the sea. He took a horrendous cross of winged gargolye and octopus as his form, and all who gazed upon him were driven mad. Utterly and undeniably insane. The Enkidu Directive succeded in driving its recipients mad, with a ninety-seven percent casualty rate! The project was scrapped, but not before I obtained this small sample. And most amazingly, the soldiers in the program were all healthy young men, in the prime of thier lives!"
Leaning into James' struggling face, Davis added with a sinister, mocking tone, "I shudder to think what it will do to a pitiful weakling like your boy."
James looked around his enemy's shoulder to see his son strapped to the table, eyes brimming with tears of fear and anger. James' eyes narrowed to thrust daggers into the face of Henry Davis, and Davis' eyes reflected the twisted soul within.
"Where is the evidence, James? Tell me, and your boy is spared the wonders of a 10x10 padded cell in Arkady Asylum."
James vision shifted quickly from his son's captured form to the hatred he felt for Henry Davis. This man was going to win. James felt his blood boiling in his body when he reflected on this fact. Davis was going to win. It was a no-win situation. Either Davis would continue to exploit the country he had fought so hard to lead, or his only child would be turned into a psychology book footnote. James felt his tears rise to the surface, his breaths came in short panicked gasps, and he was about to utter words of defeat, when Billy himself spoke up.
"Dad...For America." Billy's eyes showed the age of a veteran of a thousand wars. His resolve was evident, and he was willing to die for this cause.
But cruel Davis had heard enough. "You know, child," he said to Billy, turning to face him with syringe in his grip, "You have threatened me, and your father has threatened me. I think, a demonstration is in order. Today's Lesson: Who Not To FUCK WITH!" James' scream was lost in his throat as Davis jabbed the needle into Billy's arm, and before Billy could think about the pain, his whole definitition of "pain" was redefined.
All was melting away from Billy's sight, as the Cthulu Serum attacked his bloodstream like horde of barbarians. His every thought. Every Feeling. Every memory.
Pain.
His whole body felt afire, his blood scorched his veins from within as the concoction did its grisly work. His muscles began to contort, and twist in painful new combinations. His eyes saw nothing but the bright flashes that the Cthulu Serum wrought as his very DNA was being rewritten. The searing fire of a million white-hot sewing needles jabbed at every nerve in his body, criscrossing his thoughts as if his body sweated battery acid. His body could not stand the change. His skeletal structure fractured time and again, only to reforge itself in new ways unthinkable by the concept of medical science.
His body did not suffer alone. His mind, grasped to make sense of it all. Over and over, like a mobius strip in his mind, the thoughts and speech of numerous people flooded his conciousness, if being torn apart from within could be called "conciousness". Cthulu Serum...EnKIdu DirECTIVE!...WHY GOD WHY! Mom? Please, No, Mom...NOT TO FUCK WITH!...Help Me God, Help me God, MAKE IT STOP! OH GOD, I CAN SEE IT! DAD...Fuck you, my name is BILLY!...AleSSonMUstBBEEEEETaught...WeHoLDThese Truths...to be self-evident...
The pain began to subside, and as if awakening from a long nightmare, Billy's vision cleared...That all men...The warehouse began to take shape, as did the changes in Billy's anatomy configured themselves into a pattern far more powerful than its previous design...Are created equal...Billy looked down at his hands, and they now glowed with a bluish energy. Billy felt the power his body now contained, and it needed to be released. When his thoughts finally cleared, the first thing that Billy saw was the previously gloating, and now surprised face of one Henry Davis.
