We both walked in to discover that someone wearing a white lab coat was typing away on a computer, most likely Dr. Klamp. The room itself is a little small, not what
I expected when I thought of a lab. It seemed more like a normal office with a large bookcase filled with binders, the spines bearing labels with names I couldn't
pronounce. There's a cart with scalpels by the computer desk, and another desk holding an electronic microscope, Petri dishes, and some paperwork. I looked around
the makeshift lab, wondering why he would work in such an area, while Daniel approached him. "Hello? …Hey!... Dr. Klamp!" he started to shout when the doctor
wouldn't look up from his monitor. What kind of person wouldn't look if he knew strangers walked in? There's something really wrong with this guy… "DR. KLAMP!"
Daniel shouted again, clearly getting agitated, but it finally worked when the doctor stopped typing to look over his shoulder at us. "I can hear you." He replied simply,
before turning to his computer again, typing away like we weren't in the room with him. I stepped forward this time, feeling Daniel's agitation. "We're with the NYPD.
We'd like to ask you a few questions…" I told him, but he didn't say anything again. My eye twitched slightly in annoyance, Daniel and I exchanging glances, before I
continued. "Professor, we're looking for clues concerning the incident which occurred…" I started, before he quickly stopped typing to look at me. I actually hesitated
when this happened, not expecting him to react like that. "Are you accusing me?" he asked me quickly. But, what was stranger than his reaction was what he
did right afterward when he saw me; when he looked at me, he almost seemed… shocked… And when our eyes met for the first time, at that moment, I instantly felt
an intense heat flare up in my body again. What the hell? Was Eve nearby? No… this is…
The hospital room again with the same two beds, but it was different this time. The left bed was vacant now, with the right bed occupied by another little girl, the
doctor from the previous vision standing over her. Wait… this man! I… know him… I think…
The image disappeared just as quickly as it appeared, my face in my hands, the heat from my body gone again. I panted slightly as I looked up, Daniel and Dr. Klamp
both looking at me. "What's wrong? You okay, Aya?" Daniel asked me, worry on his face. "Y, yeah…" I replied simply, regaining my composure. What the hell was
that? Why do I keep seeing that image? And who was that man and girl? More questions swam around my head as Daniel took charge again, looking at the doctor
seated before us. "We'd like to ask you about the mitochondria research you've been doing." he told him. It seemed we finally got his attention, because Dr. Klamp
was facing us this time, turning away from his monitor, which showed some complicated graphs and numbers. Now that I have a good look at him, I can tell that he's
probably around Daniel's age, maybe older. His eyes are sharp, his nose prominent, he's sporting a small goatee, and there are several wrinkles on his face. "NYPD,
huh? Why're you interested in my work?" he asked us suspiciously, his voice betraying a unique accent; German, most likely. I took a deep breath, regaining my
second wind as I took charge again. "I'll get right to the point, Professor. The suspect from last night's incident mentioned that the mitochondria would be set "free".
Do you have any idea what that means?" I asked him, my heart beating a little fast. Maybe I can finally get some answers… "That suspect ignited people without
laying a finger on them. Then it transformed into some kind of creature and ran off." Daniel added for me. "Since she mentioned mitochondria, we were hoping you
could supply us with some information." I finished. The doctor remained quiet for a time, simply looking at the both of us. Maybe he doesn't believe us… I was starting
to think that when he suddenly chuckled, getting more comfortable in his seat. "You two have absolutely NO idea what the true mitochondria is like, do you?" he asked
us forcefully.
I was taken aback by this little outburst, my eyes focused on his. Does he know something? Daniel and I remained quiet as he continued. "The mitochondria
possesses its own unique genetic code." I blinked my eyes to this, my brow furrowing. "Its own code? Are you saying it's a separate organism?" I asked him
cautiously, to which the doctor nodded. "Precisely." What does this mean? How can that be? "Kinda like a parasite or something…?" Daniel asked him, but the doctor
seemed almost insulted by this question as he glared at Daniel. "PARASITE? That's an interesting way of describing this most fascinating creature!" he exclaimed with
a hearty laugh, chills running up my spine. "We cannot LIVE without the mitochondria! Do you understand? The mitochondria creates energy for us! Without it, we're
NOTHING! We are here because the mitochondria ALLOWS us to be here." he continued, seemingly enjoying himself as he educated us. Daniel and I exchanged
looks again, and I knew we were thinking the same thing: is this guy crazy? "Our brain, for example…" he started again, Daniel and I looking away from each other,
back at him. "The brain functions due to the interactions between axons and dendrites. This interaction is possible due to the energy the mitochondria provides. Did
you know the mitochondria is capable of discharging 200,000 volts of electricity? This not only pertains to electrical discharge, but also applies to heat energy as well."
I instantly gasped when he told me this. "Heat? Then… the combustions from last night…!" I exclaimed, my heart beating quicker as I felt myself getting closer to the
answer. Dr. Klamp studied me for a moment, tapping his fingers on the arm rest of his chair. "For a human body to burn and melt, 1600 degrees of heat must be
generated. There are several hundred mitochondria present within a single cell. If all the mitochondria in the body began functioning at the same time… a tremendous
amount of energy would be generated and released. In that scenario, melting a human into a puddle of fluid would be a simple task." he explained. I bit my lip to this
information, my mind turning back to the opera last night with all those people burning. "So, you're saying that the mitochondria ignited these people?" I shouted, my
anger rising. My fists clenched, my eyes looking down at the floor. So, that's how she did it… So, is that how she changed those animals too? And why wasn't I
affected? Are my mitochondria really that different? "Professor," Daniel spoke out, my face turning to him. "you may be right in that we need the mitochondria to live,
but in the end, we're just using them for energy, right?" he asked him, to which the doctor laughed again. "You have NO idea. The mitochondria has control over an
organism's growth." He replied, lifting up his hand toward us, his palm facing us. "Take this hand, for example. Before we're born, the hand is merely a glob of flesh.
But, when cells between the fingers deteriorate, that's when fingers are first formed. When the cells which make up the body aren't needed anymore, it receives a
signal to die. And this signal is initiated by the mitochondria. When it is relayed, the genetic information in the nucleus is cut off and in essence, dies. The same can be
said for aging. The mitochondria mutates 10 times faster than cells. Of course, this also applies to mutant forms of mitochondria as well. When too many mutant
mitochondria multiply, energy production level decreases. The decrease in energy production is associated with the aging process." he lectured, a sneer moving
across his face. This was a lot for me to take in, but I think I'm starting to understand a bit more. I had no idea the mitochondria in our bodies was so important, but if
Eve has free reign over them, then that spells disaster for everyone… "So, are you still ignorant enough to say that WE are the higher species?" he asked Daniel,
almost mockingly, to which Daniel angrily retorted: "But you're not saying that the mitochondria is doing all this CONSCIOUSLY, right?", but the doctor
kept his smile. "When I said that the mitochondria could mutate 10 times faster than normal cells, I also meant that they could evolve at a rate 10 times faster… Since
the beginning of creation, the mitochondria has been evolving at this rate. It's no surprise if they possess a power beyond our cognition. No surprise at all…" he
replied. I gasped to myself again, thinking back on all the things Eve did. Setting people on fire, mutating animals, firing lasers from her hands… But, I also thought
about my own body, how it heals itself so much faster and how I can't burn like the others… What can this mean? It almost seems like… Eve and I are… similar… The
thought that I could be the same as Eve sent chills through my spine, but… it makes sense…
The more you use that power, the more you will become… like me…
"Let me tell you something." Dr. Klamp continued. "There was a scientist who tried to determine the mutation rate of the mitochondria. With this, the scientist wanted
to establish a connection with human ancestry. In 1987, it was announced that the root of all humans can be traced to a single woman in Africa. This finding was
announced around the whole world. And with this, the mitochondrial theory spread like wildfire." he told us, cupping his hands together on his lap. "Do you know what
they called this woman? The root of all humans? "Mitochindria Eve". Splendid name… just incredible!" he finished, chuckling again. My heart came up to my throat
when he said this. "EVE? The suspect in yesterday's case called herself EVE!" I shouted in surprise. What can this mean? Is it a coincidence, or does it mean
something?
Whether there was a connection or not, I couldn't guess at when the doctor screamed out. "What?" My eyes narrowed slightly at this, with Daniel shouting out. "Hey! If
you know anything you better not be holding back on us!" he screamed out, taking a step forward. Dr. Klamp's eyes lowered onto the floor at this, turning back to his
computer. "She… called herself Eve…?" I heard him mutter, his hands tensing up slightly. "Sorry, but I've told you what I know… I'd like to return to my work now…"
he said to us, his voice a bit lower than it was before. "I believe you know the way out." he added, his fingers hitting the keyboard keys like mad once again. But,
Daniel wasn't going to have any of it, growling in his throat as he took another step forward. "Hey! You better explain what the hell is going on here!" he shouted
angrily, but Dr. Klamp just typed away, ignoring us like when we first came in. Daniel was going to confront him again, but I put a hand on his arm to stop him. I can
already tell he won't talk anymore. "Daniel… forget it… Let's just go…" I muttered, walking out of the door, my mind racing with all this new info.
I followed Daniel out of the museum, my mind going over everything I just learned from Dr. Klamp. The reason those people burst into flames was because all of their
mitochondria was activated at once? Then, those animals changed into monsters because of the mitochondria mutating? How can Eve have such a terrifying power?
Just what is she? And why wasn't I ever ignited? Does that mean she can't control my mitochondria? Or, did she simply choose not to? And what makes my
mitochondria different? Is my healing power really because of the mitochondria? Dr. Klamp said that the mitochondria can send signals to cells and order them to die?
So does that mean the opposite is true too? And then there's the good doctor himself. For some reason, I just can't shake this feeling that I know him somehow…
"Aya?" Daniel spoke out, breaking me out of my trance that the noisy atmosphere failed to do. "Huh?" I blurted out without thinking. I wasn't paying attention to what I
was doing, realizing that I was standing by the passenger door of our squad car with my hand on the handle, Daniel standing by the driver's door opposite me, his
face betraying his confusion. "Hey, you okay kid?" he asked once he saw that I came back to Earth. I blinked my eyes a few times before giving him a small smile,
nodding my head. "Yeah! I'm fine! Anyway, we should get back…" I started to answer, before I was cut off by what sounded like screams. I looked down the street to
my left where the screams came from, my eyes widening in shock as I saw several people on fire! They were all screaming and crying, begging for help before more
people burst into flames as well. It turned into complete chaos as everyone started to run in different directions as more and more flames burst into life. My mind felt
like it was in a buzz, my heart pounding painfully in my ears, memories of last night rushing back into me. It's just like last night! Fire everywhere, screaming and
crying filling my ears as I stood helpless, unable to help anyone! Eve… She's here! "AYA!" someone screamed out, an arm suddenly coiling itself under my shoulder,
hauling me up onto the hood of the squad car. I came to my senses when I felt myself being lifted, my eyes blinking several times as I watched a stampede of
panicking people running by indiscriminately. My heart continued to beat quickly, my breathing elevating as I realized that I almost got trampled! I looked up behind
myself to see Daniel standing over me, his hand on my shoulder. "That was close." he muttered, breathing out a sigh of relief. "Thank you…" I muttered back, still
feeling a bit winded, but I stood up all the same, looking down the street. It almost looked like a battlefield… There were charred bodies all over the street and side
walk, and there were also cars on fire, some of them having exploded, probably from its passengers catching fire. The whole area was devoid of life, save for myself
and Daniel. Just a few seconds ago, there was laughing and smiles as everyone enjoyed their Christmas with loved ones. Now, only death remained,
the fires making it seem like a true hell. Once again, I couldn't do anything. I couldn't stop this from happening. I became an officer because I wanted to help people.
But, is this all that I'm good for? Nothing? How have I been helping? I get to live, but everyone around me dies? Why am I still alive? What good is this power, if I can't
protect those that are right in front of me?
As I stood there, on the hood of my squad car, sirens bellowing in the distance, I clenched my fist tightly, angry, painful tears running down my cheeks freely, my
throat closing in on itself. Goddamn it…
