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LOCATION: ISLE OF LIGHT
CITY: SEYCHELLES
DATE: AUGUST 20, 2026 | TIME: 8:30 AM
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System Broadcast
Vitalyx Recipients: 7,552,601,157
Rejuvenex Recipients: 180,005,197
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@WHO: The World Health Organization has completed a comprehensive study of #Rejuvenex, and we can recommend it for all.
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The World Health Organization pored through the data provided by the Voss Foundation immediately. They had dozens of doctors and scientists ready to go, and once they endorsed Rejuvenex, the distribution points were overwhelmed.
Many of the more organized cities had already set up systems for registering and making appointments to keep things orderly, and avoid longer lines.
Some national governments took over that function. The Core Council were glad to see the numbers rising so steadily.
And with the Vitalyx recipients now reaching critical mass, it would soon become a question of seeking out those who had not taken it.
The distribution of both serums so far had gone off smoothly enough. The number of major incidents was much lower than the Council had anticipated.
But that was about to change.
Samir al-Mansoor and 300 of his Peacekeeper compatriots descended on the island and began setting up the perimeter.
Île de Lumière, or The Isle of Light, was owned by Gideon Blackwell.
It sat twenty miles northeast of Mahé, a jewel-shaped speck surrounded by turquoise water and jagged granite outcrops that made natural approaches treacherous.
On the north side, a deep cove cut into the island, its overhanging cliffs shielding the moored yachts from satellites and long-range drones.
A sizeable white sand beach curved into palm forest, with wooden walkways leading up to a terraced compound of whitewashed villas, a glass-walled conference hall perched on the ridge, and guest houses tucked into the hillside.
The entire southern spine of the island was fortified with perimeter walls and surveillance towers disguised as lighthouse spires, giving the illusion of elegance while hiding cutting-edge security. From above, The Isle of Light gleamed like paradise. From the ground, it was equal parts fortress and sanctuary.
Gideon's personal security force was comprised of twelve men, all former Australian Special Forces. Once Samir arrived, responsibility for the security of the island was handed over to him, while Gideon's team concerned themselves with his own personal security.
Rourke "Razor" Maddox, Gideon's head of security, spent the first several hours on the 20th showing Samir and his core team around. He handed over approvals for the security measures and returned to the main residence.
Samir opened a System channel to his team on the island.
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Get into position and await further orders. These guys have something up their sleeves and we may need swift action once we know what it is.
Check the box when you're in place and ready.
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A few minutes later, Samir's counter read 300 in position and ready. He headed to the conference center for the first briefing.
Floor-to-ceiling glass windows surrounded the room, and morning light filtered in through the slightly tinted glass.
Two tables flanked a podium at the front of the room, and a huge display screen covered most of the wall behind it.
Tables were lined up in neat rows to fill the rest of the room, with two chairs to a table.
Thick leather folders were at each spot, with rather expensive looking brushed stainless steel pens sitting atop each one.
Samir took in the setting in an instant, as Gideon approached him with his hand extended.
"Gideon Blackwell," Gideon said. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person."
They shook hands, and Samir executed a perfect, practiced smile. It was all too common in his line of work to meet people who made his skin crawl. It was part of doing business in this space, after all.
But the man in front of Samir right now was on a different level. He swallowed the feelings down and focused on the task at hand.
"Very nice to meet you, Mr. Blackwell."
"Oh please, call me Gideon. You come very highly recommended, by the way. You'll learn more soon, but I believe you'll find common ground with our little group."
"I'm sure I will," Samir said, keeping the steely expression and not daring to let the slightest bit of his real feelings bleed through.
"Great! Well, have a seat up here," Gideon said, indicating one of the chairs next to the podium. "We'll get started shortly. The staff will bring out coffee, tea and breakfast presently."
Over the next twenty minutes, all the faces Samir had seen on the video call entered the room. They were dressed in khakis and polo shirts, and Samir was surprised to see not a single member of any security team.
They feel safe here, Samir thought. That's good.
Once coffee and tea were served for everyone, Gideon stepped to the podium.
"Everyone, thank you for coming to Île de Lumière. I purchased the Isle of Light fifteen years ago, and spent a decade building it up to what you see today."
He spread his arms out to his sides, clearly proud of his creation.
"When I saw it the first time, it was a tangle of palm trees and overgrown white sand beaches, but I saw its potential. Never did I imagine back then that I would be here today with such a distinguished group of men, discussing such a crucial action."
He paused a few moments and let his gaze sweep across the room. Then he suddenly slammed his fist on the podium, causing a few of the listeners to jump involuntarily.
"We're here to discuss the miracle they call Rejuvenex. And the abomination of providing it to all the mongrels that populate this planet."
Gideon took a long sip of his coffee and let his words remain heavy in the air.
"My father knew Elliot Voss for decades, and while both of them passed in recent years, their legacies live on. My father's in me and the business we've built, and Voss's in the incredible elixirs his companies have created. It's not his inventions I have an issue with. It's the fact that he believed everyone deserves them."
Gideon glanced out the window at the beauty. The conference room was raised a dozen feet above sea level, and 180° of white sand and blue sea surrounded them.
He sighed.
"I know how it sounds when you say it aloud. We sound elitist. Smug. Cruel, even. But dammit, every one of us has built something spectacular in our own fields. We have earned the right to stand above others in society."
Many of the men in the room nodded, while Samir noticed quite a few still grimacing. To believe such things in their hearts was one thing, but to speak the words was another.
Gideon continued.
"Voss was an incredible visionary, and committing his entire fortune for such an endeavor is praiseworthy to be sure. But to give such precious gifts to any and all… To allow those of poor breeding and education to live forever? To give near eternal life and perfect health to the lowborn, the fools, the pitiful… It's just too far."
Nobody in the room dared to speak as Gideon's remarks reached a crescendo.
"No. Fuck that. We have hired The Massara Group. Samir al-Mansoor here is a great man. And an extremely capable one. I invite you all to open your folders."
He pressed a button on a remote and the screen behind him flickered on.
The image showed a world map. Several major population centers were highlighted with slowly blinking dots.
Across the top of the screen was a title in plain block letters.
It read: REJUVENEX: SEIZURE.
Samir kept his body perfectly still and didn't allow a single muscle on his face to move.
He sent a message to the System chat group he'd created just an hour before.
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Their plan is to seize Rejuvenex supply from major population centers around the world. Stand by for further orders.
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I knew it was going to be something like this, Samir thought. He paid close attention to the discussion even as he was forming a counter in his mind.
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System Broadcast
Vitalyx Recipients: 7,699,004,886
Rejuvenex Recipients: 351,956,773
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@BillyJack033561: Why couldn't they have released it last year? I lost my Ma and my Pa, and they could have been saved. #FuckVitalyx #FuckVoss
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