Dr. vs Dr.

JP with Jaxx and Cindy

May 13, 1889
Tunnels under Paris
2 AM

"He should be waking any moment." The sound of a French man could be heard over the fog which would be lifting from Jackal's mind about now. When he awoke, he would find himself chained to a bed. Any attempts of his other half at coming out seem thwarted.

Dr. Lamaire spoke up, "Well, Dr. Jackal. I hope you have had a restfull nap, but it is time to wake up."

Dr. Jackal was still groggy from his sound sleep. Ironically this was by far the best sleep he had since his accident. He was dreaming of finding a cure and freeing himself from Big Red. It was a good dream but that all changed when he awoke and saw the gloating grin from Dr. Lemaire.

Standing near Dr. Jackal was a dark haired man and a redheaded woman. They didn't say anything for the moment. It was Dr. Lemaire who spoke. "You are a difficult man to track down. Perhaps you should have stayed hidden away. Anyway, I have a few questions for you." At this point the questions could have been about almost anything. "I have been curious. All my experiments with the serium die. Why haven't you?"

Dr. Jackal chuckled at Dr. Lemaire for about a minute. He was amused that the man who stole his research and killed a lot of people only to fail to recreate his work was not begging him for help. It was both pathetic and amusing at the same time. Dr. Jackal calmed down as he regained his composure as he looked at Dr. Lemaire and smirked as he replied, "You call yourself a man of science while asking me that question. It was sad enough you failed at progressing in your own research that you had to resort stealing mine. Then you not only failed miserably at that, but you killed countless bystanders in the process. Now you finally get a chance to meet me and here you are begging me for the answers." Dr. Jackal chuckled again before he replied, "You failed because you are a a fool, a cheat and a charlatan pretending to be a scientist. Its the same reason you were laughed at by the science community and the same reason you will die as a fool. The answer was so obvious and you completely missed it." Dr. Jackal was amused by the situation and knew it was only a matter of him getting mad to solve his situation.

Lemaire began to look agitated, until the other man spoke up and while his accent was French his words were Greek. "Don't let him aggravate you. Remember I have never had to contain anything like it before. I am certain the chains will hold, the magic keep the demon at bay but best to be safe."

Lemaire nodded, then focused back on Jackal. "It is the demon, isn't it? He is what's keeping you alive. There must be a way for the serium to work without the crystal. You must have done other experiments."

Dr. Jackal chuckled at how easily Dr. Lemaire's chain was rattled. It was obvious the man was impatient and it reflected in his work from stealing research to using mass amounts of people as experiments with no concern to his carnage. Dr. Jackal then replied, "You look like a dumb, blind dog trying to find its tail, Mr. Latrine. You can't complete anything yourself so you act like your entitled to steal the work of others. However the joke is on you........... the big mystery you are dying to solve comes with a heavy price and you have no clue what it is." Dr. Jackal chuckled as he could see Lemaire getting upset.

Upon hearing his old nickname Dr. Lemaire, gritted his teeth slightly but then said. "So, then I suppose the truth is you, Dr. Jackal, could not get the serous to work either. Not without the crystal." Lemaire shook his head. "You always did act like you were so much better than me, but look at you you ended up on the run as well." The nickname did get to Lemaire, there was a tone in his voice that said as much, but in his mind he also had the upper hand.

Lemaire turned to the redheaded woman, "Help me take his blood." The red headed woman went about gathering supplies for the task.

Dr. Jackal looked at Lemaire and the redhead as they mentioned taking his blood. Dr. Jackal was very concerned by this as he spoke up, "Of all your bad ideas Latrine, this is the worst among them. I can barely keep my other half in check. How in the hell do you plan to compensate by cutting corners? Considering you survive the experiment, you will loose you mind, body and soul in the transformation. You are in way over your head this time." Dr. Jackal looked at Lemaire as if he was stupid.

"Whoever said I would be the one partaking in the serum. I am not trying to become a fighting machine, just to make them." Lemaire responded as he got the needle ready. He drew three vials of blood from Jackal, quite adept at the task. "You know Dr. Jackal it is almost a shame we cannot stand each other, could you imagine what we could have achieved together?"

Dr. Jackal glared at Dr. Lemaire as he took the blood samples. Then he replied, “If I wanted to do accomplish that goal, then why would I need you? It’s obvious that I can succeed and you can’t even properly steal my work. You know that this experiment will be the death of you and these chains won’t last forever. You taunted the other guy. You are stealing our blood and you trapped him in your magic chains. We he comes out…….. and he will come out…….. he will not be happy to see you.” Dr. Jackal smirked at Dr. Lemaire.

"If I die, I do so for a greater good." Lemaire didn't seem that concerned about the prospect of his demise.

Right after the blood was retrieved there was a knock on the door and in walked a man, who looked similar to Lemaire, just older. "Did you get his blood, yet?"

"Yes, father." Dr. Lemaire replied.

"Well, then let us get to work." The older man stated.

Dr. Lamaire nodded, then turned to the young redheaded. "Alice, stay with him."

"Yes, Doctor." The woman replied.

Both Lemaire's left, the French man touched Jackal's chains, reinforcing them, before he followed the two out.

That left Alice with Jackal. She was young, maybe 18 but might have been even younger than that. She seemed nervous, and remained quiet for several minutes before speaking up. "Would you like some water or food?" Her voice was quiet.

Jackal was still laying down chained to the bed, so, those questions might have seemed odd but maybe she knew something he didn't.

Jackal watched the men leave and then heard the young woman speak. He turned his head to to look at her. She was young and seemed skittish. She was in way over he head and it was obvious her future was going to be cut short hanging out with this group. He then replied to her question, "If you free me I'll persuade the other guy not to eat you. However its already to late for your boss." Dr. Jackal had a serious expression on his face followed by a sly grin hoping to spook the girl into freeing him.

Alice seemed to hesitate, she glanced to the door, the back to Jackal. "I cannot." Her accent was French, though she spoke English. "I am sorry for your dilemma, but if I help you I will be lost." She didn't explain what that meant, but quietly said. "What we do is for the greater good." It was clear she might not know or understand all of the Children's antics but she firmly believed what they were doing was for the best.

Dr. Jackal sighed as it was obvious that this poor woman was just another victim to the cult. He took a deep breath and exhaled in disappointment. Then he spoke softly, "How sad. I was hoping to spare you the carnage that awaits your fellow cult members and the Latrine Duo." Dr. Jackal chuckled as he looked at his magical shackles. Then he looked at the woman again as he spoke softly to her, "You seem to be mistaken about your priorities young lass. You may believe your cause is just and righteous, but you should take a step back to realize the bigger picture. Whoever tempts fate in order to learn the secrets of the universe should beware that some secrets were lost for a reason. I tempted fate and found a deep dark secret that should have been left alone. In other words I gazed long enough into the abyss, the abyss will gazed back at me. So now I am the cage for a terrifying monster and he has a rather disturbing hobby of instilling fear to his victims before he eats them since he sees fear as a spice on the soul. There is nothing this cult can do to you that is a worse fate than what he will do to you and your boss is trying to copy what I did. What do you think will happen to this world with more than one of me around?" Dr. Jackal chuckled as he envisioned the chaos that was yet to come. Then he muttered, "You know these shackles won't last forever. Its only a matter of time when he comes out."

"If I die, it is for the greater good." Alice repeated the words, almost flat in tone as if it had been drilled into her head repeatedly. "It does not matter. We do not matter. We give to a higher purpose." She had been extremely conditioned to the beliefs of the children. "May I get you a drink or food?"

Dr. Jackal sighed again and popped his neck to the side. The sound of his bones popping were cringy at best. He looked her over then replied, "You seem awfully determined to feed me lass. You still don't get it do you. By not freeing me you are volunteering to be my next meal. I find it sad you do not value your life and that no one will even notice when my other half shucks your mortal coil and dines on your panicked soul. I would ask for your name but it would not sit well to know the name of his food." Dr. Jackal stared at the ceiling as he sighed.

"It is for the greater good," Alice repeated. "You could join us. They might release you if you see the correct path, the only part forward. You cannot possibly believe the Eldren have the right to such control. You are American, from what I have heard Americans do not have much use for Eldren's themselves." Which was true, America, as it currently was, was founded by a group of humans who were trying to get away from the Eldren ruling things. They weren't overly fond of mages in general in America or at least those from a European background.

Dr. Jackal looked at Alice with a shocked expression as his jaw dropped in surprise. He was amazed by how foolish this woman was before him. He tried to stifle his laughter, but that only lasted for a few seconds before he burst out in laughter. It was a disturbing sight to see Dr. Jackal cackling like a mad man in front of the brainwashed maiden before him. He laughed so hard that tears began to run down his cheeks and he had to catch his breath in order to calm down. After a minute he managed to calm down and began to speak up, "Oh that was just to funny dear lass. You think that this is about humans and Eldren or Americans and Europeans? Oh that is too rich. You think you can win over Big Red with such thinking? That's like a juicy steak trying to win over a hungry tiger." Dr. Jackal chuckled at the girl.

"Interesting how you did not answer me. You not your demon. Do you believe the Eldren have the right to be in control? It is not about countries but the Arundan who will lead all of us. The humans will be granted high positions and be given ever lasting life. It is the truth most cannot see." Alice replied. "I am not trying to do anything regarding your demon. I am trying to figure out where you, Dr. Jackal stand in all of this. When the Great War comes, which side would you want to be on?"

Dr. Jackal looked at the woman with a serious expression as he replied, "Seriously? You are still trying to push that on weak propaganda on me still? Do you truly believe this is really about dethroning the Eldren? They are a dying race to begin with. Its only a matter of time before they end up extinct since they can barely have offspring. This is about fanatics taking power from one group and using it for selfish reasons. You and this cult are just pawns in their quest for power and they won't even remember your name when all is said and done. Your oh so noble sacrifice will be for nothing in the end. They want to make an army of monsters like me to defeat the Eldren? What a joke. Do you really think that demons will listen to that rubbish? Even if the cult manages to defeat the Eldren, the monsters they plan to make will turn on them and lay waste to this world and turn it to a wasteland with no evidence other races ever existed. So other than making a really sick joke, what is the real point to all of this rubbish?"

Alice sat in a chair and said nothing else, but gave a pitiful look to Jackal.

It wasn't much longer when the French man returned with two other men. He looked at Alice, then Jackal, then addressed Alice. "The guards said they heard you two talking."

"I was offering him food, beverage and a chance to get on the correct side." Alice replied.

"Did he eat or drink anything?" The French man replied.

"No, he did not agree to do so but did not refuse. He never really gave a clear answer except that he does not want to join us."

The French man turned to Jackal. "Doctor Jackal you must have some water, at least. It has been hours you must be thirsty. If you think lack of food or drink will bring your other side to the surface you are mistaken. I personally saw to the spelling of those chains, he is not surfacing." The French man stated.

Dr. Jackal smirked at the French man. He seemed very over confident in his magic and his spell. Dr. Jackal looked around and then at the shackles before he grinned at the French man and replied, "Funny how you really believe that you are strong enough to stop him. Did you know the flavor of a mage's brain is different from others? I wonder if the magic is the cause? When I was first forced to experience that horror I didn't pay much attention to it, but over time I found I am less disturbed by it and more curious. Don't worry Frenchy.......I'll make sure to take note of the flavor of your brain for science of course. So if you be so kind as to document your magic skills power level and any spells you know in a journal I will try to make use of them after I leave here." Dr. Jackal gave a warm smile at the French man.

The French man waved off Jackal, as if his words meant nothing. He either didn't care or didn't believe what Dr. Jackal was saying but he wasn't bothered by it in the least. "So, I suppose we are going to have to force sustenance on you." Turning to the girl. "Get the IVs ready." IVs were a fairly new technology, so, much so, that not all hospitals even used them. They were made from metal, quite cumbersome to use and incredibly uncomfortable. Used wrong, as one expect, could be dangerous so only doctors administratored them.

The French man turned back to Jackal. "I could just heal you but I want that look of discomfort on your face when Lemaire forces the IV on you." He paused. "I am really surprised you just do not take what is offered to you."

Dr. Jackal chuckled at the ignorant fools who truly believed they had the upper hand. He replied, " I was overconfident like you in the past. However I learned the hard way that if you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you. In my case.....I call it Big Red. Nothing you say or do compares to the fear he induces. Its just a matter of time before you realize it to late." Dr. Jackal seemed relaxed as he knew they were going to use him as a Guiney pig. It was not the first time and it was not going to be the last one either. He had learned in the past that Big Red was not a force to reckon with.

At this point the majority were ignoring Dr. Jackal, the Frenchman just shook his head. The door opened again, and it was Lemaire. He glanced over by Alice who was readying the IVS. "Well, I guess he refused any food or drink." Rubbing his hands together. "Good. I wanted to be able to admister the IV to him." Lemaire turned to Jackal. "Do not think for one instance I will be nice about it."

Dr. Jackal smirked at Dr. Lemaire and spoke, "Since when would I ever expect courtesy from a lying, thieving, psychopath like yourself? You're just digging your own grave at this point Mr. Latrine. I won't shed one tear when he rips you apart." Dr. Jackal prepared his mind for more torture as he took a depp breath.

Lemaire growled under his breath, he took the needle to start the IV and jabbed it into Jackal's arm. "Maybe, that will get you to shut up." He then put the IV in Jackal's arm, Lemaire was definitely not gentle about it but he also didn't mess up.

Dr. Jackal felt the stinging prick from the needle as he moaned a bit. He then muttered, "Fear not Mr. Latrine.....(looking at Dr. Lemaire) I am used to little pricks at this point. Sadly you would also fail as a nurse as well, since your bedside manner is lacking much like your intellect of science." Dr. Jackal was antagonizing Dr. Lemaire on purpose hoping he would do something foolish.

"Mr. Benfiel, if you please." The French man came over, put his hand on Jackal's head putting Jackal back into a magical sleep.

As Dr. Jackal was shaking into a deep slumber, his body arched before he growled and sneered in a strange language, "N nbb zlmih ej oepg iepbi zeebnir rpamji." One eye remained closed while the other one had a golden color to it for a mere moment before he closed his other eyes. Then he mumbled,"Oep mgl sgpjsro mjd hmihl veed mjd hmihl veed nhr clhsrpw." before he fell into a deep sleep. Ironically his snoring was incredibly loud and resembled a very congested giant bear. The sound was nerve grating and brought on the urge wet oneself.

As Jackal was being magically put to sleep he could feel the shiver of fear run up his spine as he heard the sound of Big Red's voice. Jackal was truly afraid as he floated into the darkness and unaware of where the demon in his body was lurking. He knew they could not hold it forever and all hell was going to break loose afterwards. Sadly since they put him to sleep now nothing could keep the beast at bay. So once again he was forced to take a back seat and watch the carnage as if it was a special show just for him.