Chapter 2

“Do I have your attention now?”

The small crowded room fell deadly silent as a powerpoint slide showed a gruesome picture of a badly burned dead body with only it’s torso, the left side of it’s head and a left upper arm remaining laid out on an autopsy table.  The body was too far gone to determine what it previously looked like or whether it was male or female.  The man presenting was in a white lab coat with a white button down shirt and a name tag that read DR. BURNINGS.

“This is a very recent example of a non-regenerable agent.  Our agents are extremely durable and can heal from even the most drastic injuries, even limb loss and short term death.”  Dr. Burning's presentation continued, visually pleased with the pale and queasy faces in the group of new employees.

“Your job is to make sure that these agents have everything they need and that they don't die.  While they are hard to kill, they are NOT immortal.”

Burnings turned to point a laser pointer at the slide, highlighting certain areas of the body as he talked.

“As you can plainly see the entire body is extremely burnt to a crisp as well as missing some appendages.  While the basic limbs can be regenerated, a brain or spinal column can not be retrieved or salvaged.  Once they are gone the agent is officially considered dead.  Another thing to take note of is incineration.  Once enough living cells are destroyed the body is irredeemable.”

Dr. Burnings clicked to the next slide showing yet another mangled body.  “This is another recent example of a body, unlike the previous one this one is redeemable.”

Using the pointer aging he pointed out the new body.  Unlike the last one, this one was not burned.  This one was barely identifiable to be female since most of her body was smashed into the roof of a white car and though twisted to a sickening position, all limbs and parts remained intact or attached. 

“As you can see this one has their spine and brain intact, even though they are both showing, they have not received too much damage.  This agent was retrieved and is currently in the hibernation vats some of you will get to see, know, and love.  When an agent is beyond basic medical treatment they are put into an induced coma and suspended for a short time in order for the body to focus on healing and regenerating any missing bits they may have lost.”  

Dr. Burnings said monotonously, as if having to have explained this several times in the past and was not very surprised or excited about the miraculous forms of medical science he had just said.

“I will expect each and every one of you to do everything in your power to keep my agents alive and mission capable.”  Burnings said, turning to the crowd.

“I started this project and I have been keeping it alive for well over twenty years.  If any of your are fucking it up i will personally see to it that you are never heard from again.”  Dr. Burnings had steel in his voice and he wanted the crowd of new employees to know that he meant every word of his threat.

“I am now leaving since I have more pressing matters to deal with.  Your managers will be in to sort you all out.”  Burnings said as he walked out the door to go and scowl at someone who was fucking up his project.

Dr. Burnings and a woman in a white lab coat and curly black hair with a clipboard stacked thick with sheets of paper, stood in front of an unconscious Agent B floating in a hibernation vat marked

B-003 STATUS:UNCONSCIOUS by a digital screen at the bottom.

“Ms. Share, How many times have we regenerated Agent B?” Asked the man.

“This will be her third time now, Doctor.”

."When will B be ready again?" The doctor asked, looking at the agent with impatient eyes.

"She suffered four broken ribs, a fractured skull, a pierced lung, broken collar bone, and a severe concussion. Not to mention the protruding spine and the several dislocations and destruction of vital cartilage." Ms. Share said looking at B's medical sheet on her clipboard that the Doctor swore had all the information in the world on it.

"Soooooooo…?"

"About one week, Doctor."

"Damn, she got really fucked up out there."

"Yes this is one of their more extensive times in the recovery vats."

"What was the mission?"

"Agents both A and B were on an information recovery and a assassination mission in Caracas, Venezuela. They were gaining information on a potentially severely corrupt U.S. politician and to eliminate said politician's contact.  It was being used as a holding point for a secret FBI drug warehouse used to store several hundred tons of cocaine before being shipped to Mexico and then to United States soil." Ms.Share said as the Doctor walked around B curiously. 

“Agent A is dead.” Burnings said with a flat tone, his eyes never leaving Agent B's floating body.

“Yes his body was incinerated during a raid of the safe house that was somehow located Sir.”

“Which means they were either sloppy or someone tipped them off. Are we certain nothing was recoverable?” The Doctor asked,inches away from the glass squinting disapprovingly at Agent B, hoping she would feel his disapproval.

“Nothing Sir.”

“Well shit.  If we even had a hand or some shit we could have regenerated his body at least.” Burnings sighed with discontent.

The doctor looked visibly frustrated at the current circumstance.

“Did they complete the mission?”  The doctor said, still staring at unconscious Agent A with great disdain and a furrowed brow. 

Ms. Share looked at her clipboard she had in her hands and flipped a few pages out of the thick stack she had on it.

“Yes they managed to discover the location of the drug warehouse, destroyed it, and executed the contact.” Ms. Share stated, reading off the clipboard.  

“Good,” Dr. Burnings said with a firm voice.  “Start setting up another mission. I want her up and ready by next week.”