"Prepare for injection." Julian Ford's voice was calm and steady, yet it carried an undeniable authority.
He deftly undid his shirt cuffs and rolled up his sleeves, revealing his well-defined forearms.
"Professor!" The senior assistant beside him turned pale and rushed forward to stop him. "Seventy percent... It's high, but that's still a thirty-percent failure rate! You're the heart and soul of this entire experiment! What if... what if something happens? What will become of the project? We can absolutely wait for the next highly compatible volunteer..."
"We can't wait." Julian Ford cut him off, his tone resolute. A near-obsessive urgency and determination churned in his deep eyes.
An image of Josie Quinn flashed through his mind.
'My Cece has been waiting in this cold "gilded cage" for far, far too long.'
'I can't make her wait any longer!'
'I must gain power to protect her myself, to take her away, to give her freedom!'
