Chapter 6
Gotham University stands as a beacon of higher learning in upper Gotham. The stone buildings, much like their usage, have evolved over their 207-year lives. The first building was a one-room mission, begun in 1797 by a Dominican monk who came to Gotham City to spread the ideals of Christianity to what was already considered a lost flock. He indentured himself to a farmer on the fertile, plains side of the river, now known as upper Gotham, while the main development of the city was occurring on the marshy side, with dirt and cobblestone being hauled in daily to build the levees and foundations of what would become the Narrows.
Friar Kieran Duncan came to Gotham to save the city from ex-communication from the church. He immigrated to America shortly after the colonies emancipated themselves from English rule. Duncan saw in America an ally to the Irish, but in need of spiritual guidance to dust off the protestant silt that lingered from English totalitarianism. Gotham, being the main port of the new world, was a good choice to establish a monastery from which to build a network of Catholic influence.
Friar Duncan worked the lands of the farmer to earn a half-acre plot to build a one-room mission from which to spread the gospel. By 1801, Friar Duncan was teaching a full day of classes built around Catholic sermons. A wealthy Gotham shipping merchant purchased more of the surrounding farmland in 1807 and donated it to the monk as a sign of faith and spiritual purity. It also allowed his children to attend free of charge. With the extra land, Duncan chose to expand and create a separate rectory and monastery from the classroom/sermon area. By the time Duncan passed away in 1837, the monastery had grown a small order of friars to continue his tradition. Like all things however, the mission of the Church of St. Thomas, changed with the passing of its founder. The Vatican became more interested in the strategic location of the church, in the heart of the burgeoning, pre-industrial Gotham City. Steamers were replacing sails in the harbor; the sound of motors began to echo through the cobblestone streets and buildings as steam and gasoline power were harnessed for interior and exterior uses. The Church saw St. Thomas as a Mecca from which to control the heart of America.
A new cathedral was built to exhibit the glory of the Catholic faith, as it towered above the Gothamites in their industrial progression. Gotham had expanded to both sides of the river and showed no signs of slowing as technology allowed for electric light and quicker travel. Surrounding buildings and land were slowly annexed by the church throughout the 19th century, until the campus included 19 buildings. Within these buildings a shift was occurring as the monastic order returned to its roots of teaching and gradually began adding secular components of botany, geology and mathematics to the class structure.
After the civil war, when industrialization took priority in Gotham, interest in the order of St. Thomas waned and gave birth to non-denominational classes in sciences, mathematics and philosophy. At first named St. Thomas College, a clean break from the Catholic forefathers led to the name Gotham University in 1899.
Today the remnants of the campus' history are reflected in stained glass windows that adorn the buildings. The state of the art interiors donated by billionaire philanthropists like Bruce Wayne, Oliver Queen, and Lex Luthor stand in stark contrast to the gothic architecture of the church.
Gotham University Hospital is the premiere medical research and treatment facility in the city. Utilizing a working hospital, the students are taught with a practicum unrivaled by many top educational facilities. The hospital draws prospective staff from an international pool of applicants, choosing only the most respected and credentialed to join the ranks of the medical elite.
GUH was at the forefront of the avian flu epidemic, receiving the first cases of the outbreak in their emergency room, the infectious disease unit quarantined the victims as the virology unit of the University began testing and working on a vaccine. Heading that research is Dr. Catherine Henner. At 29 years old, she is already one of the leading experts in infectious diseases in the country.
Bruce and Lucius enter the virology unit at GUH and are greeted by Henner in her usual abrupt manner. "This area is off limits to visitors, or can't you read the sign?"
Bruce almost looks offended that the stunning blonde, her shoulder length hair braided and slinking around her neck to hide discretely under her lab coat, doesn't recognize him. Her green eyes have a piercing stare, but not cold, aggressive and passionate about her work. Bruce offers a tentative introduction of himself and Lucius.
"I'm…."
"I know who you are Mr. Wayne. You're name is on all the crates we receive."
Lucius decides he may have better luck with the young doctor. "We came to see if Dr. Snood has arrived yet, Dr. Henner. Pardon our intrusion."
"I'm sorry Mr. Fox, we're a little short on time for chit chat with an infectious disease on the loose."
"Quite alright Doctor. No offense taken."
"Dr. Snood hasn't arrived yet, which is why I'm a bit overwhelmed at the moment, since all of his personal effects arrived this morning. I'm trying to have his operations integrated with ours by the time he arrives, so hopefully we won't lose much time with setting up shop."
"We won't keep you then. Please let us know if we can help in any way."
"Thank you, and please don't take my demeanor today to mean you're unwelcome. I would enjoy speaking with you both about what we're accomplishing here. If you'd like…"
The boisterous entrance of Dr. Snood and his entourage interrupts Dr. Henner. The man is the center of his own universe, oblivious to the concept that there is anything but his arrival at the center of attention. An extremely fit man for his age, his large build and defined musculature obscures the fact that he is almost 60 years old. Only his gray hair signals that he is a man who lost his youth many years ago.
"Hello everyone, I'm Dr. Thomas Snood, I'll be running this show now. Philippe if you would take over the samples and recode them for our system as quickly as possible we can get under way. Mary, please locate the charts for every patient diagnosed with the strain, and have someone from GUH cross reference current patient charts for symptoms. I want a controlled environment here."
Dr. Henner rushes to Snood to introduce herself and regain control of her research facility. "Dr. Snood, I'm Dr. Catherine Henner, the lead virologist here at Gotham U. I'd like to work out how best to integrate our processes…"
"Dr. Henner, I'll be directing you on how the process works from now on. I appreciate you setting up my equipment." And with a stunned look on her face Dr. Henner watches Snood nonchalantly turn and walk to the center of the room. "I'll need an office."
Again Lucius takes the lead and attempts to broker relations. "Thomas, welcome back to Gotham. Dr. Henner has taken measures to ensure you and your team are well situated."
"Lucius Fox, I hear you're the man responsible for getting me back here. How have you been?" Snood's attitude is softened slightly by the recognition of an old friend.
"Actually, Dr. Snood, I'm the one responsible for funding your team here in Gotham. As the primary investor and Trustee of the University, I hope you will consider Dr. Henner's findings over the last 6 weeks of this outbreak." Bruce assumes that his status will somehow sway Snood's perspective on his role in this endeavor.
"Ah, then you would be Bruce Wayne. I knew you're father, he was a good surgeon. Let me say this as delicately as I can. I appreciate your bankroll and I know you're good for the money. However, I was hired to do a job, and no one, including you, will tell me how to do that job."
Lucius attempts once more to ease the mounting tension in the room. "Thomas, perhaps we can discuss the arrangements of this project after you get settled in from the trip…"
"No time for that Lucius. We have an outbreak of a new strain of Avian flu here Gentlemen and Lady. H6TX, fatal in 92 of infected patients. This is not your garden-variety bird flu we are dealing with; this is a stalker and predator. I have evidence that it may have reached a phase 6 pathogenic level. I've spoken to the CDC and based on my previous research here and more recent findings at Met Tech, I'm authorized to begin human trials of a test vaccine developed for the H5N1 strain. Paul, please escort these gentlemen from the lab area. Dr. Henner, I need you to execute these clean room protocols to prepare for testing."
Snood's associate shows Bruce and Lucius to the exit, while Catherine stands defeated with her task list from Dr. Snood. Once outside the room, Bruce questions the value of bringing in Snood if it disrupts the previous teams operations. Lucius is obviously disappointed in his former mentor's attitude, but reassures Bruce of Snood's immense list of qualifications and that a giant step is being taken by moving to human trials of a vaccine. The end of the epidemic could be in sight.
"There is one more thing I need to ask you Lucius. Were there any other prototypes of the JPL made?"
"No, it was decommissioned immediately and moved to the stockroom, why?"
"I saw one the other night, or something that was too similar to be a coincidence. What about Luthorcorp, would they have a similar design?"
"It's unlikely, they focus more on weaponry. I'll look into it."