Breakdown
Chapter Seven: Dimitri Allen
"Well, well, well, look what the lion's brought home. It's just a pity that it's me." The scientist looked Joshua resolutely in the eye, as if challenging the prosecutor.
"…Whilst you seem one person I would love to interrogate properly, I'm afraid that I need only discuss the lab work you involved in, Allen. And politely request your services." The scientist looked at the detective carefully. "Well? What were you investigating at that lab?"
"… I doubt you are insulting me, but, in case you really weren't aware, we were indeed investigating time travel."
"Only time travel?" Dimitri nodded, smiling. "Well, I can't help but find that a little odd. I mean, such a thing is costly, right?" Another nod. "Well, that's definitely odd – I mean theory or no theory, I wouldn't fund a time travel project… unless there was something in it for me?" Dimitri looked taken aback, but no comment. "Let me guess… explosives?" No response. "…Electricals?"… Still nothing. "…Pharmaceuticals?" His left eyebrow flickered slightly. Noticeably, however.
Nonetheless, Joshua just stared at the scientist, his disparaging smile just a tad wider. "I don't understand."
"Most certainly, I mean, you've said that so many times in this conversation already, shaking you head vehemently – "
The scientist contemplated the thought for a minute or so… then shrugged his shoulders in defeat – after all, he hadn't been trained by the French in the art of surrendering. "Yes, most correct Prosecutor. Alongside the Time Machine, we were attempting to uncover a … sleeping drug, if you will." Joshua nodded, face much more solemn now.
"Any luck?" And, for once, he was hoping the answer was negative.
"… No real success. We experienced difficulties in getting the balance of the compound correct. Well, to begin with. It wasn't until after the incident that we realised the power device on the time machine was… distorting it somehow."
Questioning Begin
Sleeping Drug?
First Point: Distorted Stability
"What did you mean when you say, `distorted`?"
"Well, the drug wouldn't work correctly. It worked as a knockout, not an anaesthetic… and the side effects were disastrous – a reduced level of focus could last for months after its use." Point of Thought: Long-Term Side Effects
"And normally?"
"The drug would take much longer to knock someone out – two hours as opposed to instant – and would knock them out for a week if the correct administration was given. And no side-effects at all."
"So, in other words, the perfect anaesthetic. Except for the power problem. How does that work?"
"Well, at a few points there is a set of Helium, Oxygen and Potassium atoms all double bonded to one another. For some reason, the energy emitted introduced another bond between the oxygen and the helium, causing the bond between that and the potassium to break. To compensate, the potassium bonds with an O2 particle in the air, resulting in a dramatically different compound, when it happens in six different places." Point of Thought: O12 added to substance. Second POT: Bond Rearrangement
"So the O12 dramatically reduces the potency of the compound, whilst forcing its absorption?"
"That's about correct. But the oxygen remains bonded to the molecule, whilst being carried by the red blood cells in the blood stream. However, this presents a small problem, naturally."
"…Diffusion."
"Indeed Prosecutor. The molecule is so large that it cannot be used by the body, but neither can it leave the bloodstream."
"… Ultimately making it poisonous in this state."
"It consumes blood cells, rendering them unusable." Point Of Thought: Lethargy
Combine
Lethargy + Clive Fainting Quickly=
Victim of the Drug
Victim of the Drug + O12Added =
Long-Term-Side Effects on Clive's Part
Long Term Side Effects Means…
"Hmph! Thought so. The drug is still in his system!"
Questioning End
Provably KO'D
"Do you know a test for the drug?"
"Naturally, there is the obvious one. An oxygenated blood cell is red, whilst deoxygenated blood is blue. And, since this happens to groups of six molecules –"
"…You bleed the subject through a vein into a deoxygenated chamber, and see if there is a miniscule cluster of blood. Is there any easier way?"
"… Thankfully. The altered compound reacts with the original compound and rectifies itself, knocking the subject out. For forty-eight hours."
"… Can you cook some up for me? Please?" Joshua looked on at Dimitri with a joking face.
Some Time Later:
The two men stepped forward into the room, like those old crime thriller shows. Or the parodies. They didn't even look down. "… Two days, right?"
"…You're just going to leave him there?"
"… Yes. By the way…Is one side effect hysteria?"
"… I see you've caught on to that. Yes, I didn't think of it at the time."
"… You know, he looks awfully cute lying there. Makes his age show."
"I didn't think he was sixteen at first."… Allen was tired of it now – pretending to be strangers. "…How's that young brother of yours?"
"… Thanks Dimitri. Dunno why you went off the rails like that." Joshua sighed heavily. "I'm planning on adopting him. You know… his mom is really off those rails now."
"I see. Are you really leaving him there?"
"You expect anything else from me?"
And, That Night…
Those images… memories… passing through my head again…such a simple case… so why did it confuse me so? I got it right first time… what if I had called the trial forward? What if I looked at my files? And… who was it? Who did I think I was really prosecuting…. I…Can't… Remember… What if I didn't meet Miles? Or Allen, for that matter… I really owe them my life, don't I? Well… this one at least… Why did they do that? Make me think I was prosecuting someone…
Eight Years Dead.
I wake up with a start, with one sole thought in my head, passing my lips.
"Holy… that feels like a kick… Mein Gott…"
Memories Restored… However Unwanted.
Notes: Yes, the formula makes no sense. Hey, poetic licence, right?