Marie (Teumessian Trilogy Book 1)

Marie

Ana Elise Meyer

Marie

ISBN-13:

978-1514311158

ISBN-10:

1514311151

Authored by: Ana Elise Meyer

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Twitter:@AnaEliseMeyer

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Special Thanks to: Janet Mary Bagley

Copyright © 2015 by Ana Elise Meyer

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author. The story is a work of fiction. Names and characters are a product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual person’s living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

"The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me."

~ Ayn Rand

Chapter 1

              It was a chilly October evening in Washington D.C. Major John Tyler was sitting at his desk at the offices of the Unites States Army in the Pentagon. He was preparing his newest proposal. He had been trying to get himself heard for years. He had done the work they wanted for over ten years. They would throw out what they wanted him to research and he would get the funding and get it done. It was always the army’s work to him not his. He had ideas of his own and had been shot down for years when he pushed for support, but this time he felt that this was something they would be interested in too.

“This time, they will listen,” he said to himself. As he did there was a knock at the door.

“Major, the General wants to see you,” a voice called to him.

Without even looking up, Tyler replied, “Gold?”

“Yes and now,” replied the voice in a firm tone.

Tyler quickly gathered his papers, adjusted his glasses, ran his fingers through his dark brown hair and brushed off his white shirt and navy pants, “Well, now or never,” he sighed as he pulled his uniform jacket off the back of his chair and placed it on his back and buttoned it up the front. Tyler checked himself in the screen of his computer. He felt confident or at least as confident as one could be when going to see the “General.” Tyler followed the tall man who had come for him to the elevators and took it down to the main floor and followed him to the exit.

“The car is waiting for you,” the man informed Tyler.

“Thank you,” Tyler replied, exiting the building and approaching the black SUV waiting for him. Tyler climbed up into the backseat and took a deep breath as he buckled his seatbelt. 

It was a short car ride to the general’s mansion. It was truly a sight to behold, a much nicer home then one would expect for a man who had spent his life in the military. It was almost more of an estate than just a mansion. It stood three stories high and was surrounded with over four acres of beautiful land. The general was a southern gentleman, who placed his lovely estate in Virginia not too far from Washington D.C., but he never had to travel to the city to meet anyone. Everyone always came to him. Tyler always thought it was because he always had the good Bourbon and it was an easy excuse to visit his beautiful home and do business. The source was ‘old money’ or at least that was what everyone said about the general’s massive fortune and elegant lifestyle. Tyler never knew what ‘old money’ was or even what having any money was. His one bedroom apartment spoke to his lack of a decent income despite his education and training. He was dedicated to his position with the army and knew that it wouldn’t get him the financial rewards that perhaps a career in the private sector could and he was ok with that but sometimes he thought how it could be to have more than just the necessities.

“Must be nice,” Tyler mumbled to himself. Tyler held his breath. He knew it was time to hold his ground and push for what he wanted and to not take no for an answer. General Gold had to listen, he had to believe him and believe his theory was in fact possible and that it could be the greatest discovery in history if he could just get the funding. He wouldn’t be where he was if it wasn’t for the general. He had always supported his work before; why not now? Tyler took the three large steps up to the large oak door, each step felt like a weight dropping into his stomach as his nerves were getting the better of him. He felt his hands shaking, he shook them to try to get them to stop as he took the steps. He didn’t even have to knock; the door opened slowly and a dark haired man stood before Tyler.

“Major, I’m Captain Stevens.  It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He extended his hand towards Tyler for him to shake.

“Well, thank you, and nice to meet you as well,” Tyler replied, shaking his hand.

“Please come in, the general is waiting,” Stevens replied. Captain Stevens lead Tyler through the opulent foyer and into the general’s study; it had a warm but formal feeling to it. The general’s office looked like a throwback to an older less technological time; the only thing that looked like it was newer than one hundred years old was the large flat television screen on the wall next to the mahogany bookcases that covered the remainder of the walls. Gold loved books and had an elaborate collection of books dating back two centuries.  Two large red velvet chairs sat before the large oak desk with a large leather office chair sitting right behind it and in that chair sat the general writing with a large black ink pen; stacks of papers lined the desk.

General Ulysses Gold was the big man on campus so to say. His flowing grey hair never had a piece out of place and his mustache was always groomed just perfectly. His uniform was adorned with more medals and honors then one could imagine and each of them were always perfectly placed on his pristine uniform. He wasn’t the biggest of men but he was quite imposing. He stood with a grace and dignity that one can only get from being a leader, a man who could make a decision in the blink of an eye that would affect millions.

“Ty, my boy, how are you?” Gold

said with a warm smile and his sweet southern accent.

Tyler smiled, “I am doing well, sir.

It’s been a long time and an even longer time since anyone has called me Ty.”

“I think I haven’t seen you since

you were a boy, so I guess I am still in the habit,” Gold replied with smile.

              Tyler instantly felt relief. He could see flashes of the first time he met the general. Tyler had been only twelve at the time and to him Gold was an idol. Tyler had bounced from foster home to foster home for over two years after his parents had died and Gold had taken an interest in him after he scored high marks in math and science at his school. Gold had brought him to this new family. This family only had a father but it was a permanent home. Gold had brought him to an Army Sergeant to take care of him. Sergeant Adams as Tyler would call him. A stern but fair man as Gold would tell Tyler on the way to the home. Tyler remembered his nerves walking into that house for the first time. Gold held him by his shoulders and it made him feel at ease. As the door opened Tyler was introduced to Sergeant Adams, a short bald man who instantly took Tyler and Gold into the home. Gold had knelt down beside Tyler.  

“You’re going to do great things,” Gold had said with that same warm smile as he patted Tyler on the head. “This man is going to take great care of you.”

Tyler had felt calm. This was his fourth foster family but this one, this one was going to be different, this time a Colonel with the US Army had brought him to this family; it had to work this time. Since Gold told him it would. Tyler had nodded his head and saluted Gold. Gold just smiled and saluted back as his walked out the door.

That was sixteen years ago. Tyler hadn’t seen Gold in person since that day, but Gold was always around. From letters of recommendation to Grad school to funding for his research, Gold always had his back even if Tyler never saw him. Gold was his motivation to be the best. One PhD and two masters’ degrees by the age of twenty eight was nothing to be ashamed of. Biology, Chemistry, and Genetics all mastered. He proved everyone wrong, everyone who thought a foster kid could do nothing but he used his head to get ahead of all of them and be the best.

              “So, my boy, I hear you have some new research for me to fund,” Gold said with a chuckle.

“Well, yes I do, but it is more of a theory then anything. I don’t have anything firm just a general idea that needs to be explored,” Tyler replied.

              “Just a theory? Nothing concrete to back up this theory to prove you deserve to pursue it?” Stevens chimed in.

Tyler shifted in his seat.

Stevens snickered, “I expected proven science from a man with your reputation. Science, not science fiction, right?”

“Come now, Rodger, don’t be so nasty.” Gold intervened.

“Hold up, your name is Rodger Stevens? You know if you swap that out you’re Captain America?” Tyler said with a smile.

“Well, thank you for that. I never heard that before. You spend a lot of time reading comic books like instead of getting laid,” Stevens said with a laugh.

Tyler shifted in his seat again.

“Alright gentlemen this is friendly meeting, let’s not let it get so damn ugly,” Gold ordered. Both sat quietly. Nobody pushes Gold, you just listen and do as he says. Even in his sweetest tone Gold was intimidating.  “Now back on point; Ty, I want to hear about this theory of yours,” Gold said.

“I have been doing some research on the body’s ability to heal itself. Now when a person is injured, say a simple cut, the body will instantly start going to work to repair the injury by repairing or replacing the injured cells. Now let’s say that the cut is larger and deeper; then the body will still work to repair the cut, but if the cut is too large and too deep you run the risk of bleeding to death before the body can heal the wound,” Tyler said

              “That’s why you put pressure on it,” Stevens snickered.

“Exactly!” Tyler said getting excited. “We have to intervene on behalf of our body using an external force in order to aid the body. But what if we didn’t have to?” Tyler smiled.

“You’re suggesting that we can figure out a way to improve our body’s ability to heal to the point where severe injuries would heal, in, say, minutes?” Gold inquired.

“Yes, yes exactly!” Tyler exclaimed.

“And how do you suggest we do this?” Gold asked.

Tyler smiled; Gold was listening, he liked this idea. It was time to impress him. “We have to further break down the genetic code. We have to find the genes that can make a person more able to heal and we exploit it. Some people heal better than others. We know for example, that medical conditions can interfere with healing,” Tyler said.

“Genetic selection?  You’re suggesting we selectively breed people until we weed out the weaker links?” Stevens said.

“No, that’s not what I meant. I meant that we find this gene and we figure out a way to boost it in people. Like a vaccine. Only instead of it making you immune to something it would improve your body’s ability to heal.” Tyler was getting nervous. The look on Gold’s face was stern as though he was thinking deeply and breaking down the idea and didn’t like it.

“Altering a living person’s genetic structure? Wouldn’t that potentially kill a person?” Gold asked.

Tyler shifted in his seat again; they are not listening, they are not seeing the potential. Yes, there was a potential for death but also for great success and the good has to outweigh the bad.

“It could kill a person but it could also save millions. Think about it. If the body can heal any wound external and internal then you’re looking at the end of major diseases. The body would become stronger than the dangers out there and any dangers it would encounter it could fight. For example, taking months to heal from a major wound like a gunshot wound would be something of the past,” Tyler responded.

“I’m seeing military potential here, are you?” Stevens said looking at Gold with a smile.

“It isn’t really designed to be a military thing. It is for everyone,” Tyler protested

              Gold smiled “You’re an idealist Ty, you always see the long term good. I like the idea my boy but I have to tell you, you’ve been beaten to the punch on this one.”

“Wait, what?!” Tyler exclaimed.

              Gold chucked “Not only is your idea not new it has been done.” Gold lowered his head resting his hands on his desk “and successfully.” Gold just smiled.

Tyler felt his heart drop out of his chest and fall firmly into his stomach. “You’re telling me someone has successfully altered a man’s genetic code to make him able to heal faster and more efficiently.” Tyler felt weak and exhilarated at the same time. He was almost struggling to breathe.

“How about I tell you a story” Gold said with a smile. “I’m going to take you back about 30 years, are you ready?”

Tyler could only nod his head.