Meeting the Grutt

[Viru Lentus]

Looking out the viewport of his private shuttle Viru looked out at the wide landscape of Ession. As far as he could see buildings extended high into the sky and factories churned out smoke in the distance. The world seemed to be almost solely focused on business and manufacturing. "Disgusting." Viru spat as the ship lowed onto a private dock which he had rented out for himself so as to not be surrounded or seen by the common rabble. They were neither worth his time nor had the right to look upon him. Or at least thats the way Viru looked at it. Those beings were guided by their petty beliefs without even realizing they were nothing but puppets on strings being controlled by their corporate overlords.

"Sir we've arrived." A protocol droid said as it waddled into the room where Viru sat in his hoverchair.

"Tell our esteemed host we'll be there shortly." Viru wheezed out before his body was assaulted by a fit of coughs that caused the elderly man to bend over and gasp for air.

"Water sir." The droid asked handing a glass to Viru.

A flash of rage went through Viru's eyes as he was offered the water and he smacked the glass or at least tried to from the droids hand. However he was to weak, all he had done was shocked the droid by his actions.

"Do as I said." Viru choked out as he glared at the droid.

"Oh my..." The droid said as it turned to leave Viru alone and follow his instructions.

"Cursed droids." Viru gasped as he activated his hoverchair and made his way out the ship leaving the droid behind.

[member="Grudge The Grutt"]

 

[Grudge The Grutt]

The Grutt had been expanding his tab of affiliates recently. Whether for funds, power or new business opportunities. This meeting, however, was strictly based off Grudge's interest for [member="Viru Lentus"]. A scientist, a brilliant mind, by human standards. The Grutt sat in his office, pondering over numerous new possibilities of races for his Grancha Mutants. The papers scattered everywhere, scribbles, stratches, foreign languages written all over his data boards. A knock was heard, "Mr.Grudge, Viru Lentus has arrived. Shall I escort him to your offi-" The suited woman was cut off, "Grehaha!" The smoking Grutt began, "And miss the chance of being the first to greet him? Move aside, dear. I'll go alone." The woman advised against it, but the Grutt was seen placing himself onto his own hover chair before floating straight passed her.

Grudge, a 2'2" glob of pink gray matter and mutated substances would be seen floating toward the private dock. After reaching his destination, the hovering Grutt eased his way toward Viru, eyeing him from top to bottom with his own blood-shot eyes. "Ahhha! Mr.Viru. You've made it. A pleasure finally karkin' meeting ya' face to face. Your flight..how was it?"

 

[Viru Lentus]

Viru was already on the dock waiting for whatever committee that [member="Grudge The Grutt"] would send for him. Often times individuals of higher stature in society didn't risk themselves to meet the other at the docks. "Master?!" The protocol droid called from the shuttle and Viru grunted. He could already imagine the protocal droid waddling up and down the ship trying to find him. "By the force! You're ok master!" The droid said as it came up to his side. "I was looking for you, is everything alright master?"

"Leave me... Droid." Viru said a hint of disdain in his voice. While the droid had been taking care of him for most of his life he despised it. He saw it as a weakness, a large flaw, a chink in his armor if you will. It was obvious from any onlooker that Viru was far from healthy. The tan skin that his family possessed was lost on him as his own was a ghostly white. His skin seemed thin and needle marks could be seen on his arms where Iv's had been constantly pressed into the skin. Viru's green eyes almost seemed dead as they scanned the dock.

"Are you sure master?" The droid asked.


"Stang! Of course I'm sure! Get back to the ship!" Viru wheezed out. He had to say nothing more but cast a sideways glance at the droid. With a nod the protocol droid and turned to return to the ship. It just so happened the timing was perfect as the door to the docks open and out came the one being Viru had been hoping to meet. He had heard stories of the mutated Hutt and his mutants. Some of the geneticists he had met constantly spoke of how much a genius this Grudge was... Though he was not what Viru had been expecting, he was much smaller. " The pleasure is all mine Mr.Grudge. The flight was adequate... Droids can be such a bother though and so is security. Though I'm sure speaking with a being of equal intellect will make this trip worth it."

 

[Grudge The Grutt]

The Grutt chuckled, coming off as a series of monotone grunts, spitting out his cigar onto the ground. He couldn't risk chemical-imbued smoke killing off the elderly figure before he could restore the male to his desired youth. "Geha! That I can understand. I've yet to be able to put my trust and faith in mere robots. Don't think I ever karking will either." Grudge looked past Viru, looking at his ship. "Well! You didn't come all this way to hear about my disdain for animated technology. I invited you, Mister Viru, to restore something time has relentlessly ripped from you: Your youth." The hovering Grutt turned around, his back facing the scientist. "Follow me, won't you? I ain't one for wastin' time. With the new technology and lab provided to me, I'm more than certain we can see to it that an assistant droid will never have to monitor your physical health again.." With a grunt, Grudge persisted forth in his hover-chain, leading way to his laboratory.

[member="Viru Lentus"]

 

[Viru Lentus]

[member="Grudge The Grutt"]

Looking down at the sopping wet cigar as it hit the ground Viru nodded his head. "Thank you for that." He said following after Grudge in his own hoverchair. "Yes I completely agree with you, they are such vile creations and to think some believe them to be the future. All they are is programming to do what we program them to do." Viru said agreeing. He had always had a dislike for droids even as a youth. He had been surrounded by them twenty four seven and even then they could not stop the debilitating disease that had wracked such damage on his body.

"More then just time ripped my youth from me." Viru said almost in a whisper as he followed Grudge through the facility. For a business that was still relatively new on the scene he had a lab that even Viru could envy. He had never seen such a place in all his years, the closest being a Kamino facility, but it had been to... Perfect. Almost as if there was something to hide. Grudge's facility showed the true ambitions of the Hutt. "So I'm sure you've read the notes I sent you on the advanced cell regeneration and the aging processes of clones?" Viru asked as he looked over at what scientists the two passed. He had spent many of his years planning for such a day, and finally someone had the intelligence and technology to help Viru attain his goal.

 

[Grudge The Grutt]

Grudge and Viru would eventually find themselves on the fourth floor, where the magic happened. Cloning vats were spread in varying sizes, his staff whether in lab-coats, or not, were too busy running their daily operations to notice Grudge or his new associate. "Advanced cell regeneration. Aging process of clones." The Grutt repeated, a white-coated figure gifting him a datapad by which he scrolled through the contents of Viru's notes as he has time and time before their meeting. "Rest assured, Viru. I've prepared for this day. The technology, the time and now..you." The Grutt hovered toward a separate room, one dimly lit by containers, vials and over sized tubes of purple, green and red. This was his testing chambers, the personal one at least.

Stocked around the rooms were various chunks of species, their DNA, their chopped off and preserved assets, the list goes on. In the middle of the smaller room was a seat, one very large in size and able to be reclined and re-adjusted to fit Grudge's needs with his patients. "Have a seat, Mr.Viru. We'll begin by running a diagnostic test. I'll get a feel for ya' current condition, let'cha kiss good riddance to it after we're all done here." When Viru sat, a machine would lower upon him, revealing a scanner of which panned down his entire body and began to provide a full diagnostic on Viru's physical condition. His illnesses. Productivity rate of his current cells and their regenerative factors, or lack there of.

"Sit back. Relax. This should only take a moment."

 

[Viru Lentus]

Viru had went over to examine a tank filled with Gen'dai Dna. It was remarkable just how far Grudge had went in his studies. The amount of credits that had to be sunk into this facility was probably just as much as a top tier cloning facility. Size mattered not when one knew how to exploit the smallest of things to their advantage. Looking at the tube that contained the Gen'dai dna one last time Viru went back to join his new partner. "I put my trust into your hands as well as my life... Or what remains of it." Viru said with a half laugh/cough. He was sure that he didn't have much time left, it was a miracle he had survived as long as he had. Many doctors proclaimed he would've been dead by the age of twenty, and when that didn't happen they said thirty. So on and so forth till they were absolutely baffled.

So going to the center of the room Viru was able to get into the new chair with a bit of help from the surrounding scientists. With his lower half paralyzed and his arm muscles as weak as they were the chances of him having gotten up there alone was near zero. So leaning back in the reclining chair Viru closed his eyes letting his mind wander, for the first time in decades he actually felt giddy. The hairs on the back of his neck rose and goosebumps rose on his skin.

[member="Grudge The Grutt"]

 

[Grudge The Grutt]

Grudge had spent heaps of his development time prior to their his meeting with Viru developing a particular serum for Viru and only Viru. His mutant serum was re-designed, stripped of most of its drastically altering qualities and watered down in strength for something Viru had longed for. The Serum originally injected a virus into the bloodstream, said virus over-charging each cell in the body and forcing them into overload. Afterwards, the anti-body from his own DNA ,being implemented into the serum, offered a long-term immunity to the virus whilst still allowing the body to remain over-charged despite hair-loss and intellectual decay. This watered down serum still possessed the virus, but it possessed far less strength than what had been injected in his mutants, and the anti-body still remained as well. Grudge's tendrils folded over one another in anticipation as his machine and staff of bio-engineers and scientists gathered scarcely about the aged geneticist. "Relax your mind and body, [member="Viru Lentus"], by the time you awake, you will be a new man.."

The machine finished panning Viru, recording his physical condition and cellular production rate infront of the transparent data-screen of which Grudge read from, analyzing and deciphering within mere seconds "Begin.." The anesthesiologist would step forth from the crowd, her efforts quickly ensuring that Viru entered a peaceful, comatose state so the aged male wouldn't feel the pain of every cell in his body being re-constructed. Or..at least most of it, at least. Afterwards, a brief case would pop open, Grudge hovering over towards it and picking it up to reveal an injection needle, a grayish white serum swirling within. He'd thump the needle, however that'd work, barking for his staff to clear the area before her made way to the aged male. "Nighty night, Doctor, ...this will only hurt...alot."

Grudge relentlessly punched the needle into his neck, chuckling to himself whilst he hovered backward for safety. Within seconds, the virus flushed itself throughout Viru, instead of corrupting each cell to force it into overdrive to promote enhanced physical condition, this virus would form a large, single cell which would accumulate into a tumer unless an anti-body was not present. Luckily enough, there was. The anti-body seized the large cell, re-structuring its properties and effectively making it a stem cell. This stim cell began to mass produce similar, enhanced cells of its own, of which flushed throughout Viru's body and latched onto his own current, withering cells, increasing their productivity rates and regenerative factors. They were not hyper-overcharged like in the mutants, but rather enhanced to the degree his cells would repair and replicate the effects of an anti-aging serum.

From hair cells, to skin cells, every cell in his body was overrun and improved upon, re-structured vigoriously, this more than likely causing his body to shake relentlessly. It was for this reason the Doctor was strapped down, remained secure with his condition monitored by doctors and Grudge himself. His pale skin would return to its destined tan tone, his scarce, scruff strands returning to their natural brown color and growing in lengths. The withered body grew with time, though the lack of sustenance would not permit an immediate enhanced physical condition. He would have to work up to that once his consciousness was his again. Within a matter of hours, testing, prodding, final touches made, blood samples received and chemicals atop sustenance being pumped into his body to sustain his new, desired body through a mask connected to a machine. He would allow the Doctor to rest before he awoke to his new body. However, when the time came, Grudge was the first to call for the doctor to awaken Viru.

"Wakey, Wakey, Doctor...Your destiny is here to greet you."

 

[Viru Lentus]

"What is that saying that those models use?.... Oh yes beauty is pain." Viru said with a chuckle though he had thought that Grudge had only been joking. At least he did till he felt the sharp jab of the needle entering his neck. Eyes widening and body stiffening Viru looked over in horror at Grudge. Viru wanted to yell at the mutated Hutt. To tell him off or at least swing at him, but Viru's body seemed to be shutting down on him. Darkness swam at the corners of his vision and as he tried to speak the darkness enveloped him dragging him under.

"I'm sorry mam... There's nothing we can do for him. Your sons cell regenation rate is to low, and his immune system almost as weak as an infant. I wouldn't say he had more then a few years left... I will leave you with him." The doctor had said to Viru's parents on that faithful day they had taken him to the hospital. The doctor had though Viru was asleep, but instead he had simply been pretending. He heard the whole thing, even the sound of his parents crying together for their lost son.

"I WILL LIVE!" Viru screamed in his mind as he fought back to consciousness, all around the scientists had gathered watching his transformation. He could feel it, his body felt as though it had been dipped in lava and as he cast a faint glance over to Grudge he went under again.

"He'll never be able to do anything on his own..."

"We should make preperations for him to go to a full care facility."

All the words of doubt that people had spoken over the years came back to haunt Viru. They thought of him as nothing but a burden. They wished to be rid of him, to go off and have themselves a new son. One they could be proud of and tote around like some trophy. Each time Viru had been there he had heard it, and he had felt the weight and conviction behind them... However now he was born anew.

Eyes fluttering open Viru felt exhausted beyond all belief and his body felt heavier... Alot heavier. His legs! HE could move his legs. "We my friend are not limited nor bow to destiny. We seize it by the reigns and guide it." Viru said with a weak laugh.


[member="Grudge The Grutt"]

 

[Grudge The Grutt]

Grudge hovered over toward the revitalized doctor, his eyes sparkling in satisfaction. Even Grudge couldn't predict how [member="Viru Lentus"] would alter or..'revert' in his physical condition. Despite being fed through a machine, and his machine near anorexic, the Grutt's crooked smile became oooh too creepy as he continued to monitor his datascreen whilst speaking. "That, we do, Doctor, and together the task will become that much easier.." Grudge hadn't merely restored Viru's healthy out of the kindness in his heart, namely because nobody knows if he has one, but for calculated and predetermined plans of the Doctor joining his cause. Mutants. Weaponry.

Business. Two minds were better than one. However, two brilliant minds were better than ten. "How are you feeling, doctor? Your report shows that your body is stabilizing to your new body just fine. The problem appeared to be your underdeveloped cell regeneration factor and immune system. That, simply put, will no longer be an issue." Viru, obviously wearing operation clothing, was provided with an ordinary and common set of clothing from which he could pick from and mix and match to his liking. Grudge had take all the necessary precautions.

"It will take time to reach your bodies' new physical potential, I must admit, but physically, you are beyond ordinary human means. With time, I'm sure you'll take a liking to the new you. I merely hope that time will be spent along-side myself and my cause. Large minds are not so large in number around here anymore..I'll need more than interns and enthusiastic sentient beings with a large portfolio of degrees. That is where you come into play, Doctor."

 

[Viru Lentus]

"Yes my friend... Things will become much easier with us working together." Viru said as he pushed his way up from the operation table. His first few steps might as well have reverted him to a newborn as he hadn't been able to walk in years, but after some time of being on his feet he got the hang of it. The surgical clothes they had given him had been intended to fit a smaller man. None could anticipate the growth that Viru had underwent. He had yet to reach the pinnacle of fitness but muscles could be seen and his shoulders had widened quite a bit. So the clothes hung more than a bit tight to his body.

"I feel better than I have in a hundred and ten years." Viru said as he looked down at his tan skin. At his now much meatier hands instead of the frail limbs he had lived with. Flexing his hands he felt better than ever his body felt rejuvinated as though he could do anything, but Viru knew better than to let such thoughts guide him. Just because his youth had been restored did not mean he would revert to the mentality of one. He would not be going out to cantina's, not lowering himself to be among the common rabble. He'd still would be very much that same genius he was before.

Looking back to Grudge as he spoke Viru offered his new friend a smile. He knew that this surgery wouldn't come free. There was always a cost to everything. However this one had already paid off once, and soon enough the credits the two would rake in would pay off moreso. "My friend after all you have done for me, and after seeing your operation... You'll have my support in nearly anything you or I can scheme up."

[member="Grudge The Grutt"]

 

[Grudge The Grutt]

The Grutt nodded, rubbing his tendrils together with a crooked grin. "Good to know." Afterward, Grudge would hover himself to the brief-case, looking at the emptied injection needle. "You see..this entire operation didn't come cheap, Doctor. However, I did this for more than just restoring your youth. I wanted to develop something..what you might ask? Well..it's simple. A anti-aging serum. Beyond that, a medicinal concoction that exceeds the regeneration property of what the universe uses in masses in this day in age. Something that allows the crippled to walk, the blind to see, the weak to become strong,"

The grutt spoke, visually scanning through the copied data screens of every factor that went into making the anti-aging serum used for Viru's procedure. "Pills, steriods, stim-packs, whatever it may be! Not I..but -we'd- make it available to the masses, anyone with the credits! We'd revolutionize the market! This is why I'm making you, my friend, the lead project manager on this particular project. I'm sure you're more than capable of handling this. Even more so seeing as I'll be here to assist with the funds, the ideas and anything else you should find yourself needing." The Grutt paused, closing the suit-case after securing the emptied injection needle inside.

"Well..?"

 

[Viru Lentus]

[member="Grudge The Grutt"]

Going to the rack of clothes that had been brought for him to try on Viru put on a pair of black pants and discarded the surgery robes. His top was bare till he took up one of the lab coats that had been provided. "I figured that was what your goal was." Viru said stepping up next to Grudge to look at all the screens. On each one there were charts showing the acceleration of cells and just how fast they multiplied, while also painting out scenario's where everything could've went wrong. If the antibody hadn't been injected along with the serum Viru may have been healed, but his body would've began producing cancerous cells that would eventually kill him. With a heavy swallow he was glad that Grudge was around and had such a talented staff. One mistake could easily have led to Viru dying on the table instead of being returned to his youth.

Viru had begun analyzing more of the information getting caught up in it till he heard Grudge make the proposition to become the lead project manager. IT was not an offer Viru thought would come, maybe be offered a job in the labs overseeing them and a bit of counseling. Never had he dreamed of heading up the operation to create an anti-aging serum. While he was already incredibly wealthy, one couldn't simply brush away the offer, especially depending on how much Grudge offered. "Well you have succeeded in creating the serum once. It will be easy enough to do it again. To create an offshoot of it will be even simpler... However first how much will I be getting paid for my work? This will revolutionize the medical industry, and with that comes fortune. I want to be sure I'm getting my fair share."

 

[Grudge The Grutt]

Grudge leaned back in his hovering chair, chuckling aloud. [member="Viru Lentus"] had been revived in more ways than one and still spoke of being payed for his efforts in credits. Grudge grunted abit, not unnoticed. He could certainly understand. Though he despised sharing, he would have to split the profits with people that aided in his creations. It was inevitable. "And a fair share you are more than entitled to, doctor. I'd easily say you could find yourself with thirty.." He paused, grunting abit in reluctance. "Fourty percent of the profits. I hold you in high value, as you can see. Surely you won't disappoint." The Grudge dismissed the call for one of his scheduled meetings. "All that troubles me is production cost..how available the actual products will be to the universe and how much we'd eventually be charging for distribution and consumption. If you find ways to make it cheap, fast and worth a damn..we'd be in good shape, I believe."

 

[Viru Lentus]

[member="Grudge The Grutt"]

Forty percent?! Viru's mind shouted as his head went reeling. If they made anywhere near how much he projected they could with this serum, than they could easily become the richest being in the galaxy. Not letting the excitement touch his face Viru kept himself composed bowing his head to Grudge. "You are very generous my friend." Viru said though the hesitation of thirty percent had been noted. "Your faith has been well placed in my hands." Viru said looking around to ensure none of the other scientists were looking or listening before whispering low enough so only Grudge could hear. "Though are you sure you can trust all of these people? Creating such a serum will be worth a fortune, and so people trying to leave to sell the information is likely." Viru said his eyes scanning across each of the busied scientists.

"However." Viru said raising his voice once again so none of the scientists would get to curious. "To create something like this in mass... It could be slightly difficult, but not impossible..." Viru said walking back over to the computer and examining the information that was up. The progress of the cells and such. "Usually creating such medicines are very expensive. Especially Kolto, and Bacta as they have to be specifically harvested. Though since what we're using is a virus it may be possible to infect a source with it thus creating unlimited amounts, but how would we infect it and what would we infect..."

 

[Grudge The Grutt]

Grudge's eyes panned across the few scientists that carried their daily operations in his secluded, more personal lab. "Scared of a risk, doctor?" He began, chuckling beneath his breath. "The possibility certainly exists. However, the potential for what we could create out-weights any idea of dis-loyalty. Mutants crawl about every exit, afterall. Such would not be the easiest of feats, in my opinion. Rest your mind, though, -we- would quickly squash anything and anyone at the slightest hint of dis-loyalty. I require the greatest, the fastest, the stronger and the most intelligent. If loyalty is not apart of that package, then to hell with even the most monstrous of monstrosities. Loyalty, however, can be taught. Or..rather..instilled. To ease your mind..I can merely say that I've taken and will take the necessary pre-cautions to assure that scenario never meets fruition."

The Grutt turned, coughing into his tendril. He would take a certain pill, chucking it into his gaping wide mouth before clamping down and swallowing. Beyond that, The Grutt listened to what [member="Viru Lentus"] had to say. "Within everything is a structure. Remember that, doctor. If this is true, with enough effort, it can be altered, improved upon, given new properties. This is what I live for. Perhaps we could 'infect', as you say, a synthetic material or substance that. It'd need to be cheap to produce or sustain and be able to react well with the serum. However, this is just an idea. I'm sure you will think of a more effective strategy, doctor."

 

[Viru Lentus]

Secluded in the personal lab that Grudge had the foresight to set up for him, Viru paced back and forth his red hair now done in dreadlocks that easily reached to his lower back when he took the band holding them in a ponytail out. It had been three days since his health had been restored, and within those days Viru had not yet step foot into the outside world. The task Grudge had set him with took almost all his time and concentration. IT was an adventure that Viru was excited to embark on, so sitting down at his desk he looked at the terminal as the most recent rounds of results from the most recent development Gamarita came through. Not only was he tasked with a way to ensure that he and Grudge could create Grambrosia in mass he had to create his own serum meant to heal without reversing the age of users completely. A medicine that could cure blindness, allow people to walk as he now did, and even eventually after enough time grow back wounds. To craft something that could rival bacta, however Viru didn’t buy the completely innocent act that Grudge had. He may say he wanted the medicine to help others, but Viru knew credits were Grudge’s main goal for this project… Good thing that was Viru’s goal as well. Being returned to his youth had not changed his personality.

On the screen before him Viru watched as the test of Gamarita was screened directly to him, while on a second monitor he could see a projection of the current test subject’s cells. Due to having to keep the tests obscure and out of public view till it was ready Viru was forced to use the animals and occupants that were stored in the facility. Thankfully they found a Vornskr that was being kept in captivity. It seemed as if the tail had been removed to domesticate the beast when it had first been captured, and while not a limb it would be a good test to see if Gamarita could help it grow back. “Adminster Gamarita doses now.” Viru said into the com as he put his hands together and crossing his fingers. A droid had been guided into the testing chamber and after three minutes of tussling with the beast the droid succeeded. After the injection the Vornskr seemed to almost wobble on its feet before falling over onto its side, tongue hanging lazily out of his mouth. “Feth!” Viru shouted as he pounced to his seat and kicked the garbage can next to his desk across the room. Empty caf cups now littered the floor due to his outburst. On the screen Viru could see the Vornskr had flat lined, dying near automatically. If he couldn’t even get a successful test done on an animal how would he ever be able to test on humans. On his feet Viru began examining the Vornskr’s cells, and slowly the sound of the beasts’ heartbeat picking up could be heard… It was alive! And the secondary terminal showed the rapid cell regeneration. Then going from the calm heartrate it shot up causing the monitor to beep rapidly. What superficial injuries the Vornskr had gotten in tussling with the droid had cured near instantly, and from the sights of the slight nub at the end of its body Viru could see the tail would come back as well… They had done it. Gamarita had worked, if not a bit too powerful. As of right now the Vornskr’s heartbeat was going way to fast, and could possibly lead to it dying, and its metabolic rate had nearly tripled. While it wasn’t a perfect trial it was still preferable to failing. They now had a place to start. “Get him out of there we have work to do.” Viru said into the com as he rubbed a hand through his dreads. This was only the first step of many.

[SIZE=11pt]It had been two days since their first trial of Gamarita on the Vornskr, and it had barely survived. [/SIZE]However, now it was eating double, sometimes triple what it usually did. It was much more primal and feral as well and its tail could be seen making progress in its regrowth. However even looking over the reports it hadn’t been shown that Gamarita could lead to increased hostility. It had to have been a simple part of the animal’s nature. Something Viru would look into later. “Bring in the next patient.” Viru said as his team milled about down in the main section of the lab setting up the chair for their newest guest. The man was an ex-soldier that had served in battles against the Sith. He hadn’t been killed like many of his compatriots but he had lost his ability to walk at the hands of those he fought. Viru probably would’ve felt a pain of sorrow or kinsmanship with the man as he’d been confined to a chair for most of his life. Though soon if things went as planned the veteran would soon be walking again. Just in case he was wrong about the aggressiveness not being a side-effect of Gamarita. The veteran had been sat in the chair and before him a scientist stood with two syringes of Gamarita. “Don’t worry sir, this will only hurt a few minutes.” Viru said over the com. One could not use anesthetics with Gamarita or Grambrosia as the rapid cell regeneration and metabolic increase usually nullified it. “Injection one.” Viru said and watched as the scientist injected the needle into the veteran’s neck.

The veteran’s mouth opened as though he were going to scream but nothing came out. Viru had done something similar when he had been injected with Grambrosia. He knew that pain all to well. It had been as if every cell in his body had been set on fire. The veteran probably was going through something similar. Monitoring the man’s heartrate Viru ordered them to inject him again.

The second Injection had been placed at the base of the veteran’s spine where he had received his injuries. Viru kept a careful eye on the status screen as the Veteran’s heartrate spiked upon injection. His body temperature to forty-one degrees celcius. Eye twitching Viru glanced back at the terminal showing the scene below. The veteran was rocking in his seat, his eyes having rolled into the back of his head. Then suddenly he started to come down with a sudden jolt. His temperature began to decrease slowly, and his heartrate returned to normal. On the projection’s screen Viru could see the bony vertebrae repairing themselves. It was working. “My friends… We have done it.” Viru said as a grin touched his lips. “Be sure to pass on the good news to Grudge. I’m sure he’ll be excited to hear about our newest breakthrough.” Viru said finally feeling the exhaustion that he had staved off for days finally catching back up to him. He hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since before his arriving at the lab. “See our guest to his room and take the rest of the day off.”

It had been a week since their last trial had finished, and the veteran had been released back into the public just a few hours ago. No longer was the man paralyzed, his body was functioning perfectly. His skin almost seemed vibrant in a way. Though he had suffered from the increase in metabolic rate as well. This required him for at least the next few days to continue taking in large amounts of nutrients so the cellular regeneration wouldn’t kill him. Now it was on to more pressing issues. The medicines worked and had been tested, but how would they produce more? Bacta could of course be created synthetically but its main components had to be harvested. The same could be said for Kolto. Something that he and Grudge could not afford to do. If they had to cut others in on the deal the credits they received would be significantly less.

Upon inspecting the Xoorzi fungus Viru and reading reports on Kolto production Viru had begun trying to create Gamarita and Grambrosia completely synthetically as they already had, but separately everything was too expensive to mass produce it… They needed a cheaper way, they could clone the basic virus from a template, but even that would still take too long and would only produce a very limited amount. They needed something else.

Then as Viru looked up he saw one of Grudge’s mutants walk by delivering a fresh batch of bacta for them to examine. “That’s it!” Viru said almost slapping himself for how obvious the answer to their problems were. He was in a lab that specialized in the mutation of creatures. He could do something similar for plants. There were reports on people editing the structure of plants to make them poison the land, instead they would do it to infect a water source similar to Kolto.

They couldn’t use a fungus like Xoorzi as even while long lived it would take longer than they wanted to produce and clone. Especially since fungus was more for the surface. While there were marine fungi, there weren’t to many samples Viru could draw on. Instead Viru went with a simple algea, all it would take is a single bit, and with the rapid cellular generation caused by the virus it would spread infecting whatever water it was placed and grown in. There would be no need to constantly produce more as the algea could be harvested and spread to other sources if need be. Similar to how Kolto was created in the waters of Manaan.