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Wednesday - September 22

"Yeah, I remember."

The president continues around the table, and then finally introduces the strange man who has been silent since he first appeared.

"Dr. Bennett, this is Mr. Henry Taylor. Mr. Taylor has been a confidant with this project from day one. Your Uncle Gerald introduced him to Dr. Dorsey and he has been involved in every aspect of this so-called conspiracy. But Dr. Bennett, he's not the main person behind Operation Scrooge. There is only one person who was able to correct the errors Dr. Dorsey had made, and only that person is the one who perfected Dr. Dorsey's serum." President Mansoor removes her cell from her pocket. She speed dials, and then says, "It's time," to someone on the other end. I watch the main conference room door open. Stretching my neck to see who it is, I look down to the floor and notice this person wearing brown loafers with white tips. I leap out of my chair and stand against the wall. Then his face appears.

"Ted?" I mutter.

"Hello, John. Please, sit. As President Mansoor mentioned, we don't have much time. Come, John, sit, and listen."

"Ted? What the hell? Ted, you're the one I saw when one of your thugs was carrying me on their shoulders and took me for a ride to the Plaza. What's going on, Ted? Is Ted even your real name?" I ask, wanting to punch him in the gut so damn bad.

"My name is Ted, John. Please, John, sit, and I'll explain everything to you."

I stand against the wall, frightened like a trapped animal. I don't know if these people are my friends or foe. I came to trust some of them, but now, I trust none of them. Slowly, I make my way back to my chair. Cautiously, I sit as I look around to see if there are any escape routes for me to take, just in case things go sour.

"John," says Ted, "don't worry. No one's going to harm you. No one can harm you. You are the hope, along with another, that will save humanity."

"Another? Who is that, Ted?"

"You'll see in a few minutes. In the meantime, you must listen to Mr. Taylor and to your Aunt Ruth."

Aunt Ruth enters the conference room carrying a black bag, which immediately Mr. Taylor jumps to his feet and reliefs her of the extra weight that her fragile body cannot handle. Henry offers her a chair, and she softly says, "Thank you, Henry."

"You... know this man, Aunt Ruth?" I ask her.

"For a very, very long time, dear. For a very long time." She smiles at Henry.

"Well, hell, I'm glad everyone's here for this glorious reunion! Now, will somebody please tell me what the hell's going on?" I yell.

As there's nothing but uneasy silence in the room, I decide to shut my mouth and listen to what these people have to say.

"Fine, I'll be quiet." I sit with my hands clenched together, fidgeting nervously, hoping that I can get away from this godforsaken place and these people who have destroyed the world, and who most likely killed Claire and our son.

"Dr. Bennett," begins President Mansoor, "in this bag that Mr. Taylor is holding, are the five major DNA structures that Dr. Dorsey developed. The structures can be modified in order to control Earth's future population."

"What future population?" I ask, as I interrupt the president.

"John," says Aunt Ruth.

"Okay, okay, continue," I reply, and extend my hand out to the president.

"As I was saying, Dr. Bennett, these five structures are crucial to humanity's future. These five structures, when contained in a controlled environment, will allow scientists in the future to control Earth's population. But more importantly, all deadly diseases known to humankind will be eliminated."