**KNOCK** **KNOCK** **KNOCK**
Monica and Barry were ready to give their answer to Dr. James Kryo. That was when they heard a knock at the door. They were expecting to see James come through the door and that is exactly what happened. Once he entered the room, just like last time, he shut the door and turned to face them.
"Well, how are we doing? Were you both able to come to a decision?" James asked politely. He never once planned to have any negative feelings towards them if they declined. James understood very well how all of this would be too much. He went on to say, "After you tell me what you've decided, regardless of your answer, I will let you in on why this serum is so tragically unique and will never be able to be made again."
Monica and Barry, filled with an unusual sense of duty and responsibility, looked at James with unwavering conviction. They needed to do this after everything that was said. "We have decided that we will accept the special serum for our baby. However, we did want to know something." Barry exclaimed. "After you give our baby the serum, will you try and hide us from the King somehow? I know you will be giving our child unbridled strength but they won't be able to utilize any form of that power until after they are ten years old. That is a long time to be looking over our shoulders, don't you think?" Barry said, raising an eyebrow.
James smiled when he heard their answer, but it didn't last long knowing the possible hardships they might face in the future because of this. "I am so happy and grateful that you've decided to accept!" James said enthusiastically. "As to your other question, I have already put systems in place to conceal your movements for the next eleven years. In fact, the only way the system would normally fail to protect you is in the event that I perish. Also, if something happens to where I have to come and find you, just know that it's dire and be prepared for anything. I can monitor where you guys will be and make sure nobody heads in your direction. All you have to do is not make a spectacle of yourselves and live life everyday the way you want."
Barry looked surprised while Monica had a smile on her face. She said, "Thank you Dr. James. When we first came to the hospital, well even before that, we had no idea that this is what it would have become." Saying this Monica oddly had a smile on her face, as if she had resigned herself to facing their future struggles with happiness and understanding. She continued, "But now, I wouldn't have it any other way. Our baby is incredibly special. I am ready to have our little one out here in the world… in my arms."
James took a moment to appreciate her oddly refreshing outlook on the situation. "I will do everything in my power to protect you all. I also wanted to let you know that you will most likely never see me again after you deliver your baby and leave the hospital, unless something extreme happens, so if there is anything else you can think of between now and then, make sure you find time to ask me as soon as possible!"
Barry remembered that the doctor said he would tell them why there wouldn't be another serum made like the special one their baby would receive. "Hey James, just curious about something you mentioned previously, but didn't you say this would basically be the only serum of it's kind correct? How can you guarantee that? I mean it was made once right? Couldn't they just make it again?" Barry asked. He thought it's only logical to believe that if someone made something before, they could just recreate it. At this point Barry wanted to make sure there weren't more things he had to worry about.
Being reminded of the most important fact he still needed to reveal, James's face almost looked sorrowful. "No, they absolutely are incapable of producing such a serum ever again. There is a reason that the special serum will grant so much extra power. The reason being is, somehow, the research team tasked to produce this serum had to make a way to ensure that the power enhancement would be guaranteed. One of the scientists with a peculiar ability, paired up with a significant researcher and found a way to pull pieces of the human soul out and use it as an ingredient in the process to make the serum that I have here with me today. The issue with this process is after pulling even a sliver of the soul out, the soul's host body will exterminate itself pretty gruesomely. Another thing I need to mention is the reason it will multiply the power your baby will receive by another one thousand is because that is how many high end ability users lives were used in the soul extraction process."
James had to take a minute as the flashbacks started playing in his head. The couple didn't say anything to interrupt James, mostly because they weren't able to think of any words to say in this situation, and after a moment or two, he seemed to have snapped out of it and began again, "And as for why there cannot be another serum like this made, I am the last remaining scientist alive that was a part of that team. The King didn't want the competition, so after it was completed, he congratulated us, gave us our dues, celebrated with us and then began to slaughter us all. One by one he took each and every one of their lives with strength that couldn't be rivaled. As for why he left me alive, he said my brain was too important. I did not expect to walk out of that room alive, and yet I did."
Hearing this, both Barry and Monica felt a new weight of the decision they made that sat right on their chest. Knowing that so many lives had been taken and lost for the serum that their child, that hasn't even entered the world yet, would be granted left an impression of a duty that goes beyond what they had previously expected. Also, it showed just how strong and ruthless the King actually was.
The Gray family weren't thinking about rejecting the serum, but it felt like if they tried to refuse now, it would be disrespectful to all those who had their lives taken mercilessly. The events that had taken place up to this point proved how much hardship Dr. James Kryo endured and how much he was willing to risk by even approaching them about the situation, much less giving them the serum that the King would surely be looking for at the birth of his son.
Barry and Monica held their mouths open for a moment, trying to gather their thoughts to say anything to the older man in front of them, but nothing was coming to mind. Nothing would come out of their mouths. The atmosphere in the room was definitely a unique mood, which made what happened next feel like it didn't belong in the conversation. All of a sudden Monica felt a little bit of an intense cramping feeling. She winced and almost held her breath for a few seconds. "I think I just had a small contraction!" she said while getting excited and nervous all at the same time.
Dr. Kryo calmly jumped into action by paging the nurses to come in and prep Monica for her baby's delivery. With a smile he said, "Are you ready to see your special little one? It might take a little bit, but the baby is soon to be here!" A nervous smile flashed on Monica's face and she nodded her head up and down pretty quickly. "Good!" the doctor said. "After all is said and done, I will administer the serum for your baby in private and away from potentially prying eyes."
Barry stepped in close to James and said, "James… I just wanted to say that I'm so so sorry for the losses you have endured. You have done so much and you have my word that we will make the most of what is to come." James could see the sincerity in Barry's eyes, but then a trickle of liquid could be seen slowly running down his cheek. This let James know that Barry was a genuine and good person. Seeing this sent a sorrowful ache into James's heart. "Thank you from the bottom of my heart for protecting the world and providing us the means to be able to snuff out that evil."
James held out his hand to Barry and both shook the other's hand in mutual respect for each other. James said with a wink, "There there Mr. Gray, it's okay! I know you're emotional knowing your baby is almost here!" About half way through James's statement, the door creaked wide open and three nurses walked in.
Barry was a bit impressed with how quick on the draw James was. "I'm just a little too excited doc, thanks for being here to deliver our baby!" he said playing along and putting an extra few sniffles in at the end to sell it. In all honesty, even after everything that had been said and done, Barry wouldn't let anything ruin this moment. He put his game face on and got more mentally prepared than he had ever been to have this baby.
About four hours went by and every few minutes after the first one, Monica had more contractions. The next one was stronger and a little bit longer than the last, with shorter time in between each of them. Eventually, they were getting to a point where Monica felt like she had to push. She seemed embarrassed, but described the sensation as needing to poop. Barry couldn't hold in how funny it sounded to hear that come from his wife so he let out a little chuckle.
Half an hour passed by in the blink of an eye and Dr. Kryo said, "Listen to your body from here on. I am here and your baby will be fine, just push when you feel your body naturally trying to engage your core muscles, okay?" Monica nodded while controlling her breathing rather masterfully. She seemed to be a natural at giving birth because it only took her a few strong pushes and Barry and James could see the baby's head.
"Baby, you're doing so well! I love you more than anything! I just seen the head love. Keep it up!" Barry exclaimed proudly. James looked at her for a second and nodded approvingly, letting her know she was doing great. Barry couldn't hold back anymore and started to let the waterworks do their thing. He knew he was just along for the ride at this point.
"That's it, that's it!"James said a few more times. "Give it all you can, even if your body doesn't feel like pushing. Now is the time to take it into your own hands and push as hard as you can!" After that Monica pushed as hard as her body would let her for about 12 seconds and then… "WAAHHHHH, WAAHHHHH, WAAHHHH!" The baby could finally be heard. Due to emotion, she started balling happy tears after hearing her beautiful baby sound off with joyous cries. Joining in on the happy crying was none other than her husband Barry.
James stood up with the baby in his hands and the nurses around them. "Barry… Monica… meet your new baby boy, Liam Gray!" he said with the biggest smile a person could have. The nurses waved Barry in a little closer and handed him some medical grade scissors and told him where to cut the umbilical cord. Once that was done, they gave Liam to Monica and allowed for skin to skin contact. This improves the baby and parent's affinity between each other.
After things were stable for them, James cleared the room and allowed for the Gray family to have some time with each other. Just before he left, he stated, "I will be back in here in about fifteen minutes and then we will take him to a more private room to perform the serum injection."
Their newborn was so calm, so quiet, unlike moments ago and yet even the cries were sweet to hear. They knew the moment they saw him that their lives would never be the same, and they didn't want it to be. Barry took in the sight of Liam, studying his features and subconsciously committing them to memory. His dark thin hair, cute button nose, and other things he could see that would differentiate Liam from other babies. When he looked up to Monica, he realized that she was watching him do this. "We are so lucky." is all he could say without choking up again. She replied with a newfound motherly warmth, "I love our family." The Gray family had a group hug moment and then Barry gave Monica a sweet peck on the lips.
A few moments later, yet another expected knock was heard at the door. Once again, they could see James returning to the room, shutting the door behind him and then he turned to face them. "You both did so well, especially you Monica. Liam is such a handsome boy and he has two amazing parents that I can see care for him very much." After that was said, another round of waterworks started for Barry. "Dang it, I thought I was done." he said sniffling and slightly chuckling to himself.
Dr. James then asked, "Do you think you all are ready for the next step? This will be life changing. Just make sure you are prepared." Monica and Barry glanced at one another, and then back at James, "Let's go. If what was said is true, and I believe it is, then we have no room for doubt or time to second guess ourselves.
With that, Barry helped Monica, who held Liam in her hands, into a wheelchair that James pulled out of the closet. They followed Dr. James into the next room and when they entered they couldn't help but notice that everything had already been set up in preparation for this moment. In the center of the room sat a quite comfy looking bed that would only hold someone about Liam's size. Everything in the room was pure white as if this room cleansed from all of the bad in the world.
After letting the couple take everything in, he said, "Barry, could you wheel Monica over here and set her next to the desk with the computer on it? After that I will need you to grab Liam from her and lay him on that bed in the middle of the room please."
"Sure thing," Barry responded while already moving Monica in place. She handed Liam to Barry and he did what was asked of him. He then walked back over to Monica and stood by her. "What's next? Is there anything you need us to do now?" Monica asked.
James could be seen walking around the room and grabbing several little tools out of drawers located along the walls. "What's next is incredibly simple and will take no time at all. I am just preparing the last few things to inject Liam with the serum." James continued, "the injection will quite literally just be like another shot but I need to administer it slower than a normal shot. I believe I am ready."
The doctor had a little bag in his hands and walked over to Liam and the little bed where there was a seat obviously meant for him. Once he was seated he glanced at the pair across the room and asked, "This serum is not normal by any means or standards. Even the coloration of it is ever moving. Do you know what the color of iridescent looks like?"
Monica knew immediately what iridescent looked like, but Barry looked confused and said, "Isn't it just that brownish looking red?" Monica could be seen face-palming herself. "That's maroon Barry… look here, I will show you," Monica started to get her phone out to look up a picture of what the color iridescent looks like, but was stopped by James.
"Actually, if you want, I can show you myself. The serum right here in this bag is iridescent, but it almost looks magical." James couldn't help but find Barry's confused look entertaining and comical. He then pulled out the serum and even with the little distance between them and himself, they could see that the serum glowed an almost a neon silver rainbow color. Barry stepped closer and when he looked more intensely, he thought it looked like a colorful zoomed out picture of the universe.
"That is absolutely beautiful. I can't believe it came at such a cost." Barry said, reminding Monica of the lives lost. James nodded his head, "Yes, this is very beautiful which is something that can be said about how beautiful the souls were that wash used to make this as well." He then signaled Barry to return to Monica and let them know he was ready to administer the serum right now.
James looked at the precious little baby boy in front of him and whispered, "I know this isn't fair of me to say this, especially not to someone so young, but you are my last hope… no, you are humanity's last hope." With that, the doctor put the end of the needle to the baby's arm and slowly poked through the skin. "Don't worry, I have coated the end of the needle in a type of solution that won't let him feel the pain." James said, trying to reassure them. Once in far enough, he slowly started to empty the contents of the needle into the baby. It looked like his veins were becoming mapped out in the iridescent color.
A few moments later, the serum had been completely injected into Liam. After only thirty seconds, all three of them felt something strange. It was almost as if their insides were rattling. They looked around and tried to see if something was happening, but then the doctor told them to look at Liam. Bringing their attention back to their newborn son, they could see the color in his veins rise to the top of his head. His once dark colored hair was now a forever-in-motion color of iridescent. They couldn't really tell for sure but it also looked as if light was jumping out of the slits of his eyelids.
Only a moment later and a huge pulse left his body and went outward and hit the walls. The pulse looked as if it was a glass rainbow that broke apart into millions of little pieces. It was so strong it threw Barry down onto his backside. Monica had rolled several feet back before hitting the desk. Lastly, James fell back out of his chair and onto the floor. For a moment nobody said a word, and then Barry shot up and ran to his son to make sure he was okay.
James stood up as well and said, "It was a success. It paired perfectly with Liam's body. I can't believe how well it took to him. I mean I never thought anything bad would happen, not even for a second, but I didn't expect it to go this well either. It is almost as if it was made for him. I really am shocked."
Monica rolled herself over to Barry and the baby, "If that's a sign of how strong he will be, we shouldn't have anything to worry about, haha" she said, trying to think about the feeling of the pulse going through her body once more. At the end of the day, Liam was already supposed to be incredibly strong and now they understood that nobody could hope to even get close to him. All that was needed now was for him to turn ten years old.
James took them back to their room and made sure they were comfortable before setting off to do something that would let them leave undetected. "Make sure you all have a good life and I know you both will make sure he knows what love is. The last thing I want to say to you both is at some point you let him know what has happened here today. Liam Gray is the world's last hope. He is the answer."