Ever-Life the Two Book Set: The C.P.T Incident and Time Trust (12 page)

“I’ve got to tell Rach…”

He got up and paced back and forth.

“…No, on second thought, not until I make it real, no doubts.”

He sat b
ack down and chatted to himself, “I have to extract and inject into the same DNA. I can’t get around that. It has to be me. I’ll need two major pieces of equipment and I need money.”

After much pondering, he wrote the proposal requisition and submitted it for budget approval. Dr. Bellos received the request and studied it for three full nights. It vaguely reminded Bellos of his hypothesis that ‘viral based life could cure death’. He approac
hed Jack the next evening after hours, in research lab-23, facility-four.

“Hey you, how are you? I need
to talk to you about proposal 81114, you sent to me.”

“Yes, you like it? I thought you may be curious.”

“Well I am. You and I have known each other a long time. This kind of money has to be approved from the board. I can get us a meeting with one of the big guys to discuss it. You game?”

“Of course, who?”

“Gordon Swanson, himself; I’ve arranged for you, me and him to dine Saturday night. I hope you’re okay with that?”

Ja
ck got up and hugged Matt.

“My friend, this is a long time coming
, for me. I owe you one.”

“Have you told Rach anything?”

“Nope; I want to surprise her, when everything’s right?”

“So be it…We have reservations at Café Cher
, at eight sharp. I’ll meet you in the lobby.”

So, Saturday night at 8 p.m.
, Jack and Matt sat in the foyer of Santa Fe’s only French restaurant.

“Well, my friend;
are you really ready for this?”

“I know you can’t know this, Matt.  I’ve been theorizing, hypothesizing, formulating and testing for over four decades about this. I really don’t know
, if I’m ready. But, I know one thing…”

“What’s that?”

“…I know that I have to see this through, no matter how it ends. I am going to see this through.”

Bellos put his hand on Jack’s shoulder.

“I can’t know what you know here, Buddy. We never talked about it; but I can support you, and I do.”

Jus
t then, they both looked at the entyway, as the revolving front door swiveled, and the tall unmistakable frame of Gordon Swanson walked in. He saw the two immediately and smiled at them.

“Good evening
, Mathew.”

“Good evening, Sir. You know Jack Sheldon, Chief of Research at the Complex.”

Swanson extended his hand.

“Yes, hi Jack…Too bad we only see each other during special occasions. I’ve always wanted to get to know you better.”

“Thank you. I’m speechless.”

“I trus
t that will not be the case tonight. Come, let’s sit, eat and talk. I’m most interested in hearing what you have to say.”

The maître d’ led the three to a small cozy room
, with only one table, and began serving them like kings. Gordon Swanson took the lead and got right to the point.

“So, Jack;
you two and the Complex’s research successes have made quite a name for us all, in the quest to improve the human condition. I am here, because the recent request that Mathew has suggested is intriguing, but it’s void in some aspects. I want to understand the exact objectives of the equipment regarding your proposal. I’d like some details; sort of fill in the blanks, if you don’t mind?”

“Jack,” said Matt quietly, “the descriptions in your report are in most respects technically clear and reasonable. On the other hand, I’ve known you 25-
years and there’s never been this kind of; of mist-fog, in some areas of your report. I-we, think we know why you are asking for the equipment; but truly, Jack; you are talking about reanimating a life; aren’t you? I’m not reading this incorrectly; am I? You can’t keep this secret to those you trust enough to ask for help.”

Then, Bellos sat back
, and wiped his mouth with a napkin. All three were silent, until Jack spoke.

“I don’t mean to be selfish here. I know this is the biggest discovery of my life; and, perhaps it will change everyone’s perspective in general. It’s just that I
, alone, have to take this to the next step, without anyone else in harm’s way. Let there be no misunderstanding; you are correct. I have completed the written proofs. The formulations and equations say it all. But, I have to be the guinea pig; no one else. I will let you read it all; and, if you agree, we go; I get the equipment. I don’t know how to say it any plainer.”

“Dr. Sheldon
,” Swanson sipped his Champagne, “how soon can you give me the manuscript to study? The sooner I finish it, the sooner I can answer your proposal?”

“Sir; with all respect,” Jack seemed uneasy, “if anyone has to read my paper, I would prefer that only Matt here does it, if that’s acceptable to you? After that, he can meet with you or we can meet together again. I would like to move as fast as possible but with caution and security.”

“That would be fine with me. I trust Dr. Bellos implicitly…Done!”

Swanson extended his hand to seal the deal.

“At last; now, tell me something, Jack; you have written in some journals about ‘thought’, and the process of thinking. Tell me, in your opinion, exactly; what is thought? Try and make it a simple answer, for old man, eh”

“Well, I suppose the best short answer I can give is, ‘Thought is the organization and expression of our senses’.”

“Interesting take…I’m a bit of a scholarly type myself. I don’t know if Mathew told you.” Swanson chuckled. “Did you know that the word ‘organization’ has it’s root from the Greek word ‘organon’, as does our English derivative ‘organ’?

“No I didn’t.”

“Do you believe our thoughts are really ‘organs’?”

Jack paused a moment.

“Why, yes; I do.”

“In that case we should be able to transplant them, just like we do a kidney or liver, eh?
”

Jack looked speechless, as Swanson continued, “
Well, I suppose every time we speak, we transmit a thought to someone else, don’t we, hah? I guess in that respect we do transplant them; I mean; that is, if anyone remembers what we say, right?” Swanson winked. “By God, you are right, my boy; hah.”

The evening went very
well; and later, the three were outside the restaurant, laughing and talking like old friends.

“Well you two;
how long before one of you calls me?”

As they shook hands, Bellos said, “I’d like to read the manuscript right away.”

“I’m certainly agreeable to giving it to Matt, tonight.”

“Really, let’s do it. You want me to follow you
, or come with you, or what?”

Then
, a white stretch limo pulled up to the curb. The driver got out and smiled at Swanson.

“Hello
, Sir.”

“Good evenin
g, Mr. Mike. Mike, these are Doctors, Jack Sheldon and Mathew Bellows. Gentlemen, this is my Driver, Mr. Michael Warren. How long have you been with me now Mike?”

“Sometimes it seems like forever, Sir.”

“Hmm, well thanks for that, Mike; and thank you both. It was a most informative and enjoyable evening; the food wasn’t too bad either, eh. I’ll wait, with great anticipation to hear from you, Mathew.”

Swanson saluted them both
, as he got into the limo. Mike looked at Bellos and, with a wink, he got into the driver’s seat. The limo made a u-turn and sped off, down the highway. The two doctors stood next to each other, waiting for the valet.

“Matt, let’s do this. I really need to start the ball rolling. We can go to my house. I’m sor
ry Rachel is gone for the night. She would love to see you. Anyway; I’ll give you a copy of the manuscript.”

“I’ll follow you then.”

The two got into their cars and drove to Jack’s home, about thirty minutes away. Jack led Matt to his basement lab. Bellos sat down in one of the recliners, while Jack opened his desk, took out the book and handed it to Matt.

“You want me to start now
, or go home?”

“If you want to read, I’ll make some coffee and leave you alone. You may have some questions.”

Jack smiled, went upstairs and Bellos read the first ten pages. Then he turned to the final pages, just as Jack returned with coffee and cake.

“Jack, can you give me a summary, before I get into your micro-tec
h lingo. You don’t explain this, Chemical Personality Transfer in the requisition. Just give me the substance. I’ll read the proofs in private”

“Okay; fair enough…Well, I’ve isolated wha
t and where our personality/memory are, within the brain. I’ve defined it, chemically. They are really one in the same, but manifest in different ways. You follow?”

“Not sure.”

“Matt, you and I both know we learn ‘everything’ through sensation and genetics, right. We become ‘aware’ of whatever; then we think or behave accordingly. In any case, we remember it, voluntarily or involuntarily. Matt, everything we know, everything we are, is eventually stored in one location of our brain.”

“Am I supposed to differentiate between the brain and
the mind, Jack?”

“Of course, the brain is the physical beast, and the mind is who we are...”

“Sorry,” Bellos laughed, “it’s just that I do remember some things about being a doctor.”

“Anyway, if I may contin
ue; personality/memory is a chemical cocktail, so to speak. Our mind instructs all tasks required or chosen; and it eventually stores everything in a library of thought, in one location, for historical reference, a library of conscious and unconscious permanent records. You said summarize, right.”

“Go on…”

“Every action or thought triggers synaptic impulses within and between cells. I found the ‘link’ between those signals and the chemicals we produce. More importantly, at the same time the signals fire, a record of that firing imprints in your library, as a chemical. Our library is our personality, you see. Matt, I have proved that we can withdraw the library. It coagulates after death. By extracting it, and reintroducing it into the deceased, the patient will reanimate. So I called my proof C.P.T.-Chemical Personality Transfer.”

Jack took a breath, “Well that’s most of it really.”

“Most of it; Jesus, come on Jack; what’s the rest?”

“Yes, well after reinjection, something unbelievably wonderful happens. The ‘mixture’
, of the extraction and the catalyst bath, redirects the patient’s genetic make-up, issuing new instructions. The new chemical composition stimulates each cell to correct all flaws. The C.P.T. bath triggers anabolic growth within the genes. We grow more healthy cells than die off. I would not just live again; I would become healthier than I was before I expired. There has to be genetic compatibility, of course; which is why it has to be me. But the potential is staggering. Matt, eventually, we could store people in small vials and reanimate them, when there is a genetic match.”

Bellos
’s cheeks swelled, and he let out a slow blow.

“Boy, Jack
, I can only think of a thousand questions. You have proven this?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“Mathematics,
physics, chemistry, microbiology; it is all in there.”

“What about
, in a lab?”

“Come on;
it’s not like we can test rats, or animals, about personality.”

“I know; but it seems to me that first you need a human host?”

“Yes, and I need the equipment I’ve requisitioned, a controlled environment and a genetic duplicate.”

“And just how do we get your body?” Bellos chuckled. “It seems to be in use at the moment.”

“It has to be me, Matt; my body. There is only one, unless you know something I don’t,” Jack smiled. “You are correct; so, I have to die;
you
have to extract the cocktail, re-inject me and bring me back.”

Jack hesitated.

“But here is a catch.”

“Christ, I knew it.”

“The window of completion begins after one hour of death and before 72-hours, I think. That is part of my new calculations. After that, the library is far too diluted; death takes it.”

“Listen to your
self, Jack. What are you saying; brain dead isn’t dead until 72-hours after the heart stops? Jack, what you are proposing is crazy. Besides, why not invest in a cloning model. We have connections through affiliates.”

“No, a male clone’s DNA is incomplete. You know that. The brain would reject the serum in
the first place…Ironic isn’t it; I mean 72 hours is exactly three days.”

“Jack, when and from where
, exactly, do you withdraw the serum? What are the guideposts, directing the operation? Where is this ‘library’, exactly?”