Patient Zero: Origins

Several days after the procedure, Julia is awake and alone in a room with Doctor Fogg who is checking her progress.

However, Mr Pearson is watching from the confines of an adjoining room and the one-way mirror that is permitting him a view of the interaction between the head of the Orion Project and the nine year old who is sat in a bed.

“How are you feeling Julia?” Ichabod asks honestly curious as his eyes take in the sight of the young girl who looks nothing like the pale, weak and gaunt creature that had first been brought to Harborne House. Instead, Julia has a much darker pigmentation than when she first arrived. It’s the skin tone of a healthy person, whether they be a child or not, and on top of that her face seems rounder and less drawn out and sunken. Both are welcome signs of progress but are no substitute for the direct question he has levelled her way.

“I feel good.” Julia replies with a smile on her face.

Before the procedure smiles had been fleeting and occasional, but they are much more prevalent and long lasting now. It’s another positive sign evident to anyone who might have seen Julia before and who continues to see her now.

“What do you remember of the procedure?” Ichabod then questions curious as to what her response might be. It should be nothing but he has to know and believes there is doubtful any reason she would not tell him seeing as he saved her life.

But the girl does not respond. Rather, she simply stares at the doctor for a time as if considering the words and question he has levelled her way. Following the consideration Julia having no recollection shrugs in a manner that only children are able to without it seeming lazy.

A brief smile slips across Ichabod’s face as he notes down on the tablet in his hands Julia’s responses. Then he quickly moves on, not wishing to dwell on the unnecessary and risk digging up something that might trigger a suppressed memory.

“Do you think you can stand?”

This time Julia’s shrug is almost immediate. It raises suspicion in Doctor Ichabod Fogg but doesn’t affect what he says next.

“Why don’t you try?”

Julia hesitates but says nothing as she instead quickly and adeptly swings her legs over the edge of her bed and then plops down onto her feet on the warm heated floor.

“Why is it that being able to stand doesn’t surprise you Julia?” Ichabod asks already knowing full well why the young girl is not surprised by her achievement.

Julia lowers her head but says not a single word.

“It’s OK Julia you can tell me, you aren’t in any sort of trouble.” Ichabod promises, while hoping that his attempt to reassure the girl will be enough.

It is and why Julia soon explains, “I felt really good and got excited since I hadn’t felt like that in a long time, soooooooooo…I tried to stand when I was alone in my room. And I could!” Julia exclaims with joy on her face as she giggles.

Ichabod smiles, it isn’t a forced smile like most before in his life have been. This is a genuine smile and he’s completely unaware of its presence.

“How come I can stand now? And feel so much better than I did?” Julia queries as she cocks her head to one side. The action is almost a carbon copy of what her mother, Angela, seems to do at times. Ichabod had taken note of the tendency but has to admit this is the first time he’s seen it from Julia.

“It’s because of the procedure you went through Julia. It cured you of cancer.” Ichabod answers before quickly moving on. After all, he doesn’t want Julia to focus on the events or begin thinking about her parents. That is why he asks, “Do you know if you can do anything else?”

Julia shakes her head vigorously from side to side which again draws a smile to Ichabod’s face. However, it in no way deters him from suggesting, “Well then, why don’t you try lifting some things for me and we can see just how strong you’re getting?”

“OK.” Julia replies a second before Doctor Fogg hands her a cuddly polar bear toy.

Unsurprisingly the nine year old lifts it without any issue, which is why Doctor Fogg moves onto a toy car. Again Julia lifts the toy without issue, giggling as she does so. Though, her eyes flick toward the soft polar bear every so often.

The tests continue as Ichabod asks Julia to try hefting a book. It’s no problem for the girl, not that it should be. Even the small box she is asked to lift next that sits on the floor nearby shouldn’t be and isn’t a problem for the young girl.

So Doctor Fogg asks Julia to lift a larger box, which she does without comment or complaint.

“Good. In fact you’re doing very good Julia.” Ichabod assures as he continues to take notes on Julia’s development, which is rapid by the looks of things. Surpassing even what he considered as the best case scenario.

“How much more of this do I need to do?” Julia asks before long.

“Are you getting tired?” Doctor Fogg queries warmly.

“No.”

“Is it because the box is heavy?” He then asks sure that it must be.

“No. It’s not heavy. It barely weighs anything.” Julia announces confidently.

“It…it isn’t heavy?” Ichabod utters shocked at the words that have just come out of the girls mouth.

“No. Should it be?”

“Do you mind if we check your muscle density?” Doctor Fogg asks carefully without answering the girls’ question. After all, the last thing he wants to do is break the trust that he has built up between Julia and himself.

“Will it hurt?” Julia asks sounding very concerned and wary.

“Not at all.” Ichabod replies with a shake of his head thrown in for good measure.

“That’s fine then.” Julia replies with a shrug that helps emphasise her indifference now that her fears have been placated.

Ichabod presses a button in his pocket only for Doctor Kruspe to come waltzing in a very short time later. She sticks a pad to Julia’s forearm and then waits for a reading on the display in her hands.

When the reading comes Doctor Kruspe’s jaw drops, visibly, as she cannot believe the reading that is being given to her.

“What have you found?” Ichabod questions sounding eager.

Instead of speaking aloud, Doctor Kruspe leans in and whispers, “Julia is showing muscle density off the scale. It could mean she has incredible strength that far surpasses that of any adult.”

And with that, Ichabod leans back into his seat once more and then utters, “Thank you Doctor Kruspe.”

Sharon Kruspe takes that as her cue to leave. Before she can however Ichabod utters, “Julia can you try picking up Doctor Kruspe.”

“What…” Doctor Kruspe exclaims fearfully just prior to the one hundred and thirty two centimetre tall child grabbing a hold, lightly, of the female doctors’ legs and then lifting her up and off of the floor without showing even a slight hint of difficulty.

Sharon Krupse meanwhile is demanding that she be put down and that this isn’t funny. So to not have to listen to his colleagues complaints Ichabod asks nicely, “Can you please put Doctor Kruspe down now Julia?”

“Sure.” Julia says a couple seconds before she lowers the woman back to the floor and releases her grip to allow Sharon Kruspe to quickly back up across and out of the room as Julia giggles.

Meanwhile, Mr Pearson strokes his stubble covered chin while a smirk sits on one side of his face.

Without question it is clear that the procedure has not only cured Julia Chantal but also made her in to so much more than she was before. As a result that could, if it is possible to replicate this success, open up countless possibilities that will not only secure his future within Delta but could also allow him to climb into the upper echelons of Xen because of the sheer mountains of money that this could bring in.

Unfortunately, that is when Harborne House head of security, Max Bell, steps forward so that he is alongside Timothy, so he can whisper into the CEO’s ear, “The Chantal’s are here, sir.”

Timothy rolls his eyes exasperated by the ever returning annoyance that is Julia’s parents and the inability for security to adhere to their orders, as simple as they are.

That is why Timothy reminds, “Then turn them away, Max. I’m sure your men are capable of that. And if they need to issue some excuse tell them that their darling daughter still hasn’t woken.”

“They tried that sir. But the Chantal’s are refusing to vacate the premises until they see their daughter, whatever state she may be in.” Max utters in response. He knows his boss isn’t happy with this interruption but any further action has to be sanctioned by him. After all, they were Mr Pearson’s orders to begin with.

Timothy sighs, frustrated, while Ichabod continues to test Julia’s strength and reflexes.

Every test, which the good doctor has now resorted to dreaming up on the spot, is being more than aced by the little girl.

“Astounding.” Timothy utters as he contemplates how he wants this issue resolved. During that time Max says nothing. He knows his role, when to speak and when to keep quiet and let Timothy Pearson think.

However, after five minutes having passed during which it becomes clear that Mr Pearson has become more focused on the child than giving Max an answer, the head of security asks, “What are your orders, sir?”

“The Chantal’s cannot be permitted to disrupt or interfere with Julia’s development. Deal with them.”

“Yes sir.” Is Max’s only response before he steps back, turns on his heels and then departs leaving Timothy Pearson standing there with a wide cruel smile torn across his face as Julia, who is giggling, hefts a heavy counter with a single hand and seemingly no effort at all.