5 Years Ago, Devoe Household
Marlize walked into her home and paused in surprise as Clifford was energetically writing on a white board as he was surrounded by other with equations, "I've solved them." Clifford smiled at his wife
"Solved what?" Marlize asked walking forward
Riemann's hypothesis, Hilbert's 15th problem, standard conjectures on algebraic cycles, and the list goes on." Clifford smiled
"Clifford, this-"
"This is incredible! Ask me anything!" Clifford interrupted excitedly
"Um, who was Jack the Ripper?" Marlize asked watching as Clifford closed his eyes before they snapped out a second later
"The prevailing theory is there was a London barber by the name Aaron Kosminski who committed the crimes. He also suffered schizophrenic and delusional tendencies. But it was his nurse at the Colney Hatch Asylum! Catharine Jewell!" Clifford said smiling, "It's like every little bit of knowledge now resides inside my brain. I know every answer to every question ever asked."
"You're incredible!" Marlize smiled
"We're incredible! You made all of this possible! We now finally have the means to bring to the world the-" Clifford stopped suddenly and seemed to be struggling
"Clifford, are you okay?" Marlize asked before her husband collapsed, "Oh my God! Clifford! Clifford! Clifford!"
Later, Central City Hospital
Clifford sat with Marilze in the doctors office with a cane and a frown on his face, "Imagine your body as a river. There's a dam blocking your legs." the doctor explained
"My gastrocnemius muscles are degenerating, aren't they?" Clifford said causing the doctor to blink in surprise
"Well, yes. The symptoms are similar to-" the doctor began
"Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis." Clifford interrupted
"But your muscles are decaying faster and more rapidly than typical ALS. I believe this is something else." the doctor said
"Is that your medical diagnosis? That I have a case of something else?" Clifford asked patronizingly
"It's just we've never seen a case like oh-" Clifford snatched the folder from the doctor, "Yours before."
"An increase in complex fasciculation potential explains axonal membrane hyperexcitability. But it doesn't...Of course. When gamma wave activity exceeds 50 hertz, my acetylcholine receptors draw away from my nerve receptors instead of toward them." Clifford realized
"What did you say you're a professor of?" the doctor asked
"History." Clifford said looking up to the ceiling
"What's his prognosis?" Marlize asked
"Life expectancy for typical ALS is about two to five years." the doctor said
"In this chronodispersion, it would be half that. Complete paralysis will come first." Clifford said before he tossed the folder aeay in frustration
"Excuse us, please." Marlize said before the doctor left, "This doesn't make sense."
"My mind is drawing energy from my body, like a parasite feeding on an ailing host. I'm so close to everything I've ever dreamed of, only for it to be ripped away by this body." Clifford hissed in frustration as Marlize frowned before she shook her head
"No, no, no. We can stop this, Clifford. I'll never give up." Marlize said tears trailing down her cheeks
"2,600 individuals developed the meta-gene. They use it to rob jewelry stores and summon tornadoes. I use mine to save humanity, and I'm condemned? Dying wasn't part of our plan." Clifford said looking away from his wife, "I'd like a moment alone, please."
YOU ARE READING
From Jinchuriki to Speedster
ActionMy name is Nathaniel Allen. When I was a child, I saw my mother and brother killed by something impossible. My father went to prison for her murder. To the world, I'm an ordinary forensic scientist, but secretly I use my super speed to fight crime a...
