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Again, I am SO FREAKING SORRY this is taking so long. I want to reach the ending too, but there is alot of stuff I have to deal with. But, within that, it gives me the time to really think about this story, and you guys clearly enjoy it enough to keep on waiting.
Here we go!
The Death of Manfred von KarmaChapter Ten
The room was silent once more. The Von Karma family absorbed what was just said, trying to understand everything. Miles was the first to speak up. “Infected your very being?” Manfred regained his focus, ready to explain what he said. “Yes Miles.” Manfred sat back more in the gurney. “That case was everything to me. McCoy’s idea of perfection was flawed, but that Mr. Damon… the way he controlled the judge…” Manfred sported a slightly devilish smirk. “That kind of power was appealing.” Manfred started to practically glow. “To think, that kind of control of the court... I would be the greatest prosecutor there ever was. By being so forceful…”
“You monster.” Though it was only a whisper, it was heard loud and clear.
Franziska spoke up. “You are a monster, papa! Why would you idolize the man that… that…” Franziska stood up in anger and frustration. In pure fury, Franziska shouted, “You… you… coward!” Franziska was so full of fury, could find no more words. Streams appeared under her eyes as she stormed out of the hospital room. Miles stood, but before Miles could say anything, Manfred spoke in his normal, rough tone. “Let her go. She has every right to be angry.” Miles, although concerned for Franziska, was did not particularly care about what she said. He turned to Manfred, and said, “I still don’t understand. That trial, your obsession, what does that have to do with my father?” Manfred responded, “You will understand in due time, Miles.” He settled into the gurney and closed his eyes. “For now, I need to rest.” Miles, although still wanting an answer, respected his surrogate father’s wishes, and promptly left the room. Mile, after closing the door, checked his watch. Four in the afternoon. What felt like minutes were indeed hours and Miles knew that the day had only really begun. He paced down the hallway as to find his upset sister.
Derek Stiles sat at his desk in silence, just staring at the charts, x-rays, and medical documents me looked up on the internet. Every time he looked, things didn’t seem as right as it was before. The organ failures, the coma, the seizures, every time Derek thought about these conditions, things never added up. Derek was caught in a maelstrom of confusion, racking his brain for an answer, ANY answer. This storm could have swallowed him had Angie not entered the room, the creak of the door diverting Derek’s attention. Derek, not waiting for anything, quickly said, “Yes, Nurse Thompson?” Angie entered the room and started to speak. “Well, Dr. Stiles, I know I am technically on my break now, but is there anything I can do to help you?” here was a brief silence, and Derek answered “Well, could you check on Mr. Von Karma and his children? It would help a lot.” Angie nodded in confirmation, and left the room. Stiles sighed heavily, and leaned into his chair. Removing his glasses, he messaged his temples, clearing his headache some. Then, Derek thought of the one person that could help him with this problem. Derek replaced his glasses and picked up his cell phone from his desk, not wanting to risk the life of the woman he must call.
In a far off European hospital, a tall, purple haired woman sat at her desk, twirling her long, stylish hair betwixt her right fingers, pen placed perfectly in her left hand writing notes on her charts when her cell phone buzzed in her pocket. Placing the pen down, she removed it from her pocket with a slender hand, glancing at the caller identification on the front of the small device. Derek Stiles, friend and colleague in the GUILT breakouts nary two years prior. She clicked the green button and elegantly held the device to her left ear. With a soothing voice and a pleased smile, she answered, “It’s been a long time, Derek.” Derek rested his cell under on his shoulder and responded, “Hello, Dr. Kimishima.” Nozomi Kimishima, otherwise known as Dr. Weaver to the rest of the world, leaned back in her chair and got right to the point. “Is there something wrong, Derek?” Derek answered, “Yeah. I have a problem with a patient. I am sending you some things to look at” Derek clicked on his computer and emailed a series of images and texts to Nozomi. He briefly explained the scenario as Nozomi looked through the sent items. Derek finished, and asked, “Second opinion, Doctor?” Kimishima was silent, and said the one possibility she could think of. Derek knew of this possibility from the beginning, but after the whole ordeal two years ago, he did not want to think of such an answer.
“Derek, this might be a new strain of GUILT.”
There was dead silence on the line. “Dammit” Derek cursed under his breath. Derek immediately responded, “I thought that was done with. I thought we beat it.” Dr. Kimishima switched to a solid tone, saying “You cannot discount the possibility of rogue agents, Derek. After Delphi was disbanded, there was no guarantee that some cells may still be around. Terrorists rarely give up, even after their leaders are is killed.” Derek rubbed his temples again, and said back, “Is there another possibility of outbreak? Could we have another crisis?” Nozomi sighed and answered calmly, “Do not think worst case scenario just yet Derek. Do what you can, and keep him alive. This may all be one big misdiagnosis.” Derek closed his eyes and calmed himself. Stiles muttered, “Thank you, Nozomi.” She smiled again. “Take care of yourself, Derek” and ended the transmission.
Angie, Miles, and Franziska sat at a small table in the hospital’s cafeteria. Angie had to convince the two to finally come with her to eat. She had to remind the two that it had been hours since the two pseudo-siblings had not eaten. The three were in silence as they ate their respective meals, Franziska barely eating anything at all. Franziska was still very upset at her father and herself for her outburst. After some time, she decided that she would speak to Miles, but she didn’t want Angie to hear. Franziska, like her father, never cared for doctors or nurses, especially blonde ones that told her what to do. Deciding to speak in German, she focused on Miles. “Miles, can we talk? Speak in German, so that this blonde girl doesn’t understand us.” Before Miles could respond, Angie interjected in a cool tone, “I heard that.” in a perfect German accent. Franziska grunted in anger, and decided to just let out what she was feeling.
“I can’t believe my father. He admired the man that protected the man who killed his sister. And then, he passed those teachings down to us. His own children, born to be prosecutors, we were just following the techniques of some slimy defense attorney.” Franziska put her fingers to her forehead, looking away from the two, trying her best not to cry in front of them. “But, I don’t think that’s reason I am so upset. All I wanted was truth. I just wanted the truth and he gives me a story of why he is so corrupt.” Miles sat back in his chair and put on a face of disgust. He said, “He explained nothing to me. His story doesn’t tell a damn thing about why he killed my father. Trust me Franziska, you are not the only one who didn’t get any answers. Only reasons to hate that despicable man even more.” Angie, sensing the tension, decided to throw in her two cents. She may not have known all the details, but she thought her words could still help. “Maybe what he said was truth, but in a way you didn’t want.” The two stopped, and looked right at the blonde nurse in silence. She continued. “One thing our jobs have in common is the truth. I have had to deliver ugly news to patients and families. Doesn’t your job involve finding the truth?” Angie paused, and spoke again. “Look, it seems to me that your father had to tell you an ugly truth about himself, in order to help you find the answers you need.” There was a silence at the table, as the two let Angie’s words sink in. Maybe this girl was right. But, there was little time to think about it. Angie felt her pager buzz, and looked at the screen in shock. She looked up, and delivered some ugly news.
“Your father is in emergency surgery. He’s dieing faster then we thought.” The three rose, and Miles and Franziska followed as Angie started her dash to the operating room.