Chapter 25

CHIONE HQ, Mersin, Turkey

With a flick of the wrist, Peter set the pale yellow liquid swirling in the tall Erlenmeyer flask. On the lab table lay a clipboard and a worn notebook whose dog-eared pages was covered by his cramped handwriting. Peter looked down at the clipboard. His lips moved as he read. Then, he smiled.

He mumbled, "Step three is a success. Now for step four."

A voice came from the doorway of the lab. "Things going well I hope?"

Peter returned the flask to its stand. He turned to address Charlotte as she hobbled closer cane in hand. "So far."

"You're certain you can make the same compound as before?"

"Yes. I'm comparing Robin's documentation against my own notebooks. Aside from a few minor differences, they are the same. Robin's directions are very detailed and her technique is flawless. Her work is superior to my efforts in fact," noted Peter. "My notes are years old and my original formula was rough to say the least. Robin refined it to be less harsh on the test subjects and, more importantly, she stabilized the few volatile chemical interactions. The first few times I made the original batch it was a touch and go affair."

"High praise indeed."

"Professionally speaking, it was refreshing to have had her for a co-researcher. She was … is very creative and dedicated."

"Regrets?"

"Who doesn't have them," said Peter. "But what is done is done and past."

"I often ponder the possible future repercussions, Peter. You say that Robin is talented and I don't doubt that. Would she work against you and us? Knowing as much as she does, she would be formidable."

"She could but why? She has her freedom. What purpose could it serve to toil over something that holds such traumatic memories?"

"So, you believe that she wouldn't be attempting to say create an antidote or hinder your research in any way?"

"No, Charlotte, I don't believe she would."

"But she could. She has the requisite skills does she not?"

"In terms of knowledge, yes, but not opportunity. She was watched and monitored at all times. Her work was cross-checked at random by me and others. Her access to the computer system was limited," said Peter. "Then there were days when she was too ill to work."

"But she did manage to cripple the computers," said Charlotte.

Peter flushed. "Well, that was before we put the safeguards in place. And, she didn't destroy the data. Using someone else's login credentials, she changed one script file to point the program to a non-existent location. It was clever but hardly crippling."

Charlotte nodded in agreement. "Very clever, yes."

Peter turned a hot plate on and placed a flask on it. "Besides, it would have taken a great deal of planning and patience to sabotage my work."

"You know Robin far better than the rest of us. In your professional opinion, would she be vengeful towards you or us in general?" asked Charlotte.

"In the beginning, she was rebellious and angry as would be expected," said Peter. "However, over time, she grew to accept her situation. Our relationship became surprisingly cordial."

"She lost her fighting spirit you mean?"

Peter shook her head. "No, I don't think that was it. Her innate pragmatism won out. The anger and resentment was always just under the surface. I knew and felt that. However, I made sure that she was treated with respect. She was never deliberately mistreated. Over time, her resistance was simply worn down." His expression hardened. "Until she escaped of course. That I had not anticipated."

"She saw an opportunity and took it."

"Yes, she did. Mistakes on … on my end did not help," agreed Peter grudgingly. "But all good things must come to an end. If there is nothing else, Charlotte, I must return to my work."

"One more question. You are assured that the end result of this batch of Compound A will have the same effect as the original?"

"Reasonably sure." Peter sat on a stool and crossed his arms.

"We … you have to be absolutely sure," said Charlotte. "Would it not be a good idea to try it on a test subject first?"

"It would but there's no time. I'm already late in delivering this."

"But-"

"My life depends on this, Charlotte. I have to finish at least one batch to … to prove my intent to complete my part of the contract however delayed," said Peter.

"And if it does not work?"

"Oh, it will work. This is the equivalent of undiluted alcohol in effect. It WILL have an effect. The question is to what degree will it be effective," said Peter. "How malleable will the test subject become? How strong will the mental imprint be? Assuming that the subject does not go mad of course. That's one of the more immediate side effects."

"How charming." Charlotte looked around the gleaming laboratory. There were boxes of equipment and supplies still to be unpacked and organized. Aside from a small security force and the crew of the yacht, there were no one else at this new facility. More people would be needed and soon. "Peter, would it be possible for you to give me a list of the kinds of personnel you'll need to staff the lab?"

Peter adjusted a clamp on a manual extractor mechanism. "I have a list somewhere here." He move to his clipboard and flipped through the pages. He took one out and handed it to Charlotte. "Here it is. Plus, a list of additional supplies I'll be needing."

"Very good." Charlotte accepted the list. "Would you mind if I procured a test subject of my own choosing?"

Peter bristled. "I told you I have no time to-"

"I understand that. But after you've fulfilled your delivery, I'd like to test Compound A. See the results first hand."

Peter relaxed. "As you wish. Afterwards is fine. We should test Compound X, too. I had a new variant that had finished quality testing but it was too late to replace the version that was put into production."

"If the purchase orders I studied are any indication, the customers seem to be happy with the production version. Why change it?"

"There was one aspect of the compound series that we never were able to eliminate until this last version, Charlotte. In some rare cases, a subject who had ingested Compound X as part of a powdered mixture or diluted liquid would have seizures after the euphoria phase wears off."

"Euphoria phase?" asked Charlotte. "I was under the impression that Compound X was used by itself and not in a dilution or mixture."

Peter moved to a blank whiteboard that hung against the wall. He uncapped a marker and wrote the numbers zero, one, two and three. "The base or zero version was carbon disulfide. It was meant to be delivered as a gas. Using the research gleaned from carbon disulfide, various compounds were created with varying delivery systems - gas, liquid, powder or a tablet. Each format had side effects. Compound X was initially created to be used in its purest form. I'll call it Product One. This product, code named Amnesia and in pill form, alters the mind and allows for an imprint of an alternate persona over time. The euphoria phase is that point where the subject feels the compound's full effect. For each product, the length of the euphoria phase differs. The longer the phase, the stronger the exposure. For example, Product One's euphoria state lasts for nearly a full day. Obviously, there are markets for this sort of product, however, it is a small one."

"Unprofitable in the long run you mean," said Charlotte.

"Yes. The number of countries and agencies who could use Product One is finite," said Peter. "So, we created Product Two. This is a Compound X in a liquid soluble powder form and diluted by a certain percent but still unmixed. This version makes the subject open to suggestion for a short period of time. In some cases, it can cause the subject to become delusional and detached from reality."

"How susceptible does the subject become? Can it overcome a subject's natural resistance - emotional, mental, willpower, what have you?" asked Charlotte.

"For the brief time period, about two hours per application, the subject is entirely open to anything you may propose. The subject would even kill himself if so ordered. In order to fight the effects, the subject would have to have an extremely strong will or have some odd condition we have yet to overcome," said Peter. "Best of all, it doesn't leave the usual traces in the bloodstream or body tissue other than an elevation of affected hormones and such. The subject will suffer from mild to severe headaches as the compound wears off though."

"That would be very valuable."

"We realized that but it too has a small market," said Peter. "The Foundation was constantly fundraising because our operating expenditure was ridiculously high. We needed a product that would require the least amount of manufacturing expense yet would have the highest rate of return financially."

"Enter Product Three," said Charlotte.

"We discovered the third use by accident. We found that the powdered form of Compound X when mixed with a popular anti-depressant drug at a high dilution ratio, made for a superb recreational drug. It had the positive mood altering effect desired by drug users and a clean high that lasted for hours."

"What is a clean high?"

"Most hard drugs such as cocaine or heroin lead the user into a perceived state of sensory elevation and relaxation. However, when the state ends, the user is brought back into reality like one on the end of a bungee cord," explained Peter. "Sometimes the pull back is relatively pleasant like feeling sleepy or hungry. At other times, it is disturbing and the user becomes psychotic, confused or depressed. Product Three makes the euphoria state last for hours with hardly any negative pull back effects, except for the rare seizure which is not life-threatening as far as I know. The lack of negative traits makes for a clean experience. Our code name for this product was Joy. In fact, that's what we felt when demand exploded for it."

"Your bank accounts swelled considerably I take it," said Charlotte.

Peter smiled and gestured to the lab. "All this was made possible by Joy. We had reached a limit on production capacity at the Foundation. But here, we forecasted a four-fold increase in product output. Mersin being on the coast was better suited to our needs instead of being in a city like Vienna." He frowned thinking about Elena and the destruction of the Foundation. "We were setting up to move manufacturing operations fully. Another month and we would have been … been safer."

"We're here to continue Elena's work and her dreams, Peter," said Charlotte. "Your own achievements haven't ended. With more funds, there's so much more you can do."

"As I remain in hiding for all my life?" asked Peter. "Can you give me a new life like Cesar did?"

"In time, yes," said Charlotte.

"But you can't guarantee that Cesar won't find me."

"We're all targets, Peter. You do not own a monopoly on his vengeance," said Charlotte.

"That's what Helena said. What did you do to Cesar, Charlotte?"

Charlotte grinned. "Something few have ever done. I bested him. It was for a brief time but I had done it. The victory is somewhat tarnished because I underestimated him. I shall not make the same mistake."

"What about Helena? Why would she hide from him?" asked Peter. "Did she best him, too?"

"Helena did something much worse," said Charlotte. "She used him you see. Not once but twice. Faison only knows of the first time. He will find out about the second time in due course."

"No one uses Cesar."

"Oh, Peter, everyone uses everyone," said Charlotte. "That's what makes the world go around and around in a cycle of self-interest and entitlement. It's not personal. It's survival pure and simple."

"As you are using me for your purposes," said Peter.

"Quid pro quo surely."

"What happens when my utility is at an end? Will I be allowed to go my way and you yours?" asked Peter.

Charlotte looked hard at Peter. "Somehow I don't see you being THAT much of a fool, Peter. You'll land on your feet and you'll find ways to be useful."

"You sound very confident of that."

Charlotte caught Peter's eye. "One survivor recognizes another. There is … security in numbers, Peter. Think on that."

"I'm ALWAYS thinking, Charlotte." Peter searched Charlotte's face. She said nothing waiting him out. Finally, he asked, "How much do I dare trust you?"

"I don't see that you have much of a choice but to trust me," said Charlotte. "How much is irrelevant."

"At least you're blunt. That's something I like," said Peter. "Helena is too … polished and sometimes evasive for my tastes."

"Helena prefers the steel hand under the velvet glove approach," said Charlotte. "I used to be the same way."

"And not anymore?"

Charlotte shook her head. "Time is frittered away so carelessly. I'm not wasting my energy or time on trying to be charming or persuasive. Things will be done my way or they won't. Simple. Direct. Efficient."

"Ruthless?"

"Always," replied Helena walking into the room. "It's the one thing about Charlotte that I can always rely upon."

"Helena, Peter was just explaining to me the various product lines of Compound X," said Charlotte. "I had not realized how marketable it truly was."

Helena gave a predatory smile. "The profit angle was devised by Elena, realized by Peter's results and shaped into reality by Roger's operational efforts. A serendipitous combination of vision and knowledge."

"One answer eludes me," said Charlotte. "How are these products distributed? I see the customer lists and orders but how do the products enter the market? I've scanned nearly all the available documentation and find nothing that indicates actual distribution by us. How does Joy, for example, get into the wider marketplace. And, do not say it does not because how else can the profits be so much if not exposed on the street level."

"I've always been curious about that as well," said Peter. "I mostly left those decisions to Elena and Roger."

Helena leaned casually against a counter. "The method of distribution was my part of the overall vision. Personally, I find the solution quite elegant. Some day when we have more time I'll tell you both all the details. For now, Peter, are you finding things to your liking?"

"Yes, I am, Helena," said Peter. "I was not at my best or even normal state when first we all met. I do apologize for that."

"Very understandable. You had a shock to the system," said Helena.

"Soon, I hope to prove to you that your … trust in me and my abilities is not misplaced," said Peter.

"We did promise Elena that we would continue the work the two of you began," said Helena. "She was a dear friend. It was unthinkable that I would not honor her last requests."

"Be that as it may, I do intend to earn my place here. Value for value I think that's only fair," said Peter. "With that in mind, if you ladies would excuse me so that I can return to my work?"

"Of course, Peter. We won't interrupt you again," said Charlotte.

Peter looked at Helena then Charlotte. "Thank you. I have much to think about. Excuse me." With that, Peter moved away and towards his arrangement of flasks and test tubes that stretched over the length of the counter.

Helena and Charlotte left the laboratory and made for an empty conference room. They sat down opposite each other across the long oak table.

"I've completed my roundabout itinerary to Paris," declared Helena. "I leave in a few hours for Bulgaria. The prospect of being in a car for many hours is not a pleasant one."

"Would you like me to try to find a more talkative or amusing driver?" asked Charlotte. "Or I could book you on a train. It would be faster but it would expose you to more risk should anyone recognize you and make a report to Interpol."

"I'll stay with the car. A wig, bad posture, spectacles, comfortable shoes and a hideous dress should be disguise enough."

"I do not understand why it is paramount that you get to Paris. We are at a critical point, Helena. We need to concentrate our efforts here. What meeting could be so important?"

"Merely family business, Charlotte. However, my presence is crucial in the determination of key decisions." Helena tapped the table top with her fingernails. "Speaking of decisions, what happened in Moscow? Why isn't Faison dead?"

"Faison checked out of the hotel the day after his scheduled meeting with Peter."

"I suppose he was spooked by his cousin's non-arrival," said Helena.

"Perhaps. By the time my agents arrived, he was gone," said Charlotte. "If we only had more time to plan adequately."

"It was an opportunity that had to be exploited no matter the time available. Do you know where he could be now?"

"All the hotels and lodgings have been checked. He is not staying in them," said Charlotte. "If he is still in Moscow, then he must be staying with acquaintances or friends."

"IF he is still there?"

"We checked all visitor passports for Faison's usual aliases and none have matched. However, the bartender confirms that a man of Faison's description was waiting as we expected. So, he was definitely in Moscow but at this moment, we … I cannot be certain of his actual whereabouts," said Charlotte. "However, based on the schedule of public appearances posted on his web site, I can deduce that he would be staying in Russia for a while yet."

Helena shook her head. "I find it amusing that he, of all people, has a website. The one man born to be a loner has a following."

Charlotte smiled as well. "A rabid one, too. His next book signing and appearance is in Helsinki then Oslo. Staying in Russia until then makes sense."

"You are not giving up on finding him?"

"No. I am experiencing some unforeseen difficulties however due to the sudden instability in Moscow," explained Charlotte. "Normally, finding and securing the services of an independent operative is easy and straightforward. But lately no one wants any work. The best for hire operatives, tier one class, are not looking for work and, strangely enough, most have taken long vacations. I was forced to employ second tier operatives and they were most reluctant. I had to raise the bonus rate. I would dearly love to know what is happening there."

"Too bad you've lost your reliable source in matters Russian," commented Helena.

Charlotte's lips pursed and she snapped out, "Hans was no longer useful. He lost his nerve. Also, I doubt now that he ever had the support he said he had for an internal coup inside the DVX."

"Still a pity to lose all that knowledge."

"He chose the wrong side. I had no choice but make the decision I did," said Charlotte with a hint of defiance in her voice.

Helena took the unsaid hint from Charlotte to back off the topic of Hans Reinhardt. "Our first priority is neutralizing Faison. If assassination is not possible, then we must devise something else while time is on our side."

"I am making preparations for two assassination attempts forthcoming. If these operations fail, then I must create a plan guaranteed to lure Faison into the open. I am still formulating possibilities."

"Do these possibilities involve Anna?"

"Anna or … Robert. Manipulating either will result in the other sacrificing himself or herself. They are very predictable," said Charlotte. "Leave things to me, Helena. I will certainly inform you of any changes regarding Faison."

"You have many responsibilities. You must manage Peter, general operations here and on the field. My leaving comes at an unfortunate time. I do not want to leave but I have little choice," said Helena. "I wish we were more certain of Peter. Can he be trusted?"

"He has shown no inclination nor displayed actions to the contrary," said Charlotte.

"But how can we be sure? What can we do to verify his allegiances?" asked Helena. "You must see that we cannot take anything or anyone for granted. We must be certain."

"I undertand, Helena. I do understand your concerns."

"But?"

"I believe that he is trustworthy. I believe this because he has far too much to lose should he betray us or prove worthless. He knows that. He must," said Charlotte. "We need to be looking outwards for our enemies."

"You ARE telling me everything, aren't you, Charlotte?" asked Helena.

"Why would you say I was not?" countered Charlotte.

"Because I sensed a rapport between you and Peter earlier. Because you can choose to keep things from me," said Helena.

"As you could from me," replied Charlotte. "I suspect you've only told Arielle and I a fraction of the truth regarding the Cassadine jewels." She paused and chose her next words carefully. "I remember how desperate you were to have them during the auction."

"Desperation is for fools," said Helena. "They belong rightfully to the family and I will see things set right. THAT is MY business. I suggest that you do nothing to … hinder my plans where family matters are concerned."

"Wouldn't dream of it," said Charlotte. "I have plenty to occupy myself with while you are in Paris. Have a safe trip."

(85-b2c25)