A/N: I had this idea while in manchester today, and i couldnt wait to get home and write it down. Hopefully as this is my third chapter it will get more reviews. fingers crossed
Our hero with no name was dead, to all efforts of medical science. His father was exectuted for the crime of murder, (as Gareth had become an American citizen this meant his father was extradited to the usa where he was given the death sentence. His trial broke the record for the quickest trial ever, one look at his case history and the jury made up their minds, and it was a week after the shooting that he was found guilty and sentenced to die. Gareths remaining family wanted nothing to do with the body, and so it was given to his 'boss' Kirigi. Kirigi's scientists worked night and day, and yet could make no headway on even finding the bullet. Gareth lay on the examining table, with no pulse, no heartbeat, and yet had not even crossed the threshold into the first stage of rigor mortis. When the scientists probed the bullet hole, they found traces of the bullet but no bullet itself. It was as if it had disappeared.
Several weeks later all the team had gone home for the evening, leaving Gareths corpse on the autopsy bench ready for the morning, when they would perform a full autopsy before burying the corpse. It was no extra ordinary evening, apart from the fact that it was an exact lunar month, that is to say twenty eight days, since Gareth was shot. His corpse lay on the table, nude and prepped for the autopsy. Suddenly, Gareths chest started to move up and down as if he was breathing, which in fact, he was. It was as if Gareth was simply asleep, or in some sort of coma.
The next morning the scientists were amazed. They had never come across a case where a body survives for a month, without some sign. They conducted tests, CAT scans MRI scans, every type of scan available and were just waiting for the results of the toxicology scan, when Gareth woke up. There was no trigger, no event, he just woke up, sat up on the trolley and asked for food. After all, he hadn't eaten in over a lunar month.
As he was eating, the toxicology results arrived on Kirigi's desk. After a quick glance, Kirigi quickly left his office and walked to the laboratories, where he found Gareth busily devouring the Scientist's lunch.
"Good afternoon Gareth."
"What happened Kirigi. The last thing I remember is walking up to my house, and then I heard something behind me. A voice, my fathers voice. What did he say?"
"He reminded you of what he had promised the last time he saw you, before shooting you with a modified shotgun. You have lain as if dead in the laboratories for the last month, with a bullet wound in your back but no bullet."
"What did he shoot me with? How was the shotgun modified?"
"The shotgun had a modified lead magazine, but as far as we could tell, it was empty. I have only this moment found out the truth of the matter."
"What happened?"
"Somehow your father came into possession of a chemical virus. As far as the scans can tell, it's a genetic combination of HIV and the Smallpox virus. The labs have come up with a drug to combat it, but it can only stop it as long as you take the drugs. Stop taking them and you will experience pain beyond anything you have ever felt before. Stop taking the antibody and you will die painfully and slowly."
"What is the drug?"
"I will give you a copy of the formula later. For now, you must regain your strength. Here is a sample of the drug now. This will last you exactly one lunar month. Fail to take it at your peril. I have had the staff prepare you a room. The training room is down the hall on your left, and your room on the right. Become strong again, Gareth, and become who you are meant to be."
Gareth was given a key to his room, along with the syringe full of the blue liquid. He walked unsteadily down the corridor, turned to the right, and collapsed onto his bed, where he fell asleep before his head even touched the pillow.
There. Now review. Please, Even you Lee.