Page 12 of Broken Bonds

Once it’s all finished, I dig out a metal tray and arrange all the food on top of it. I also grab a bottle of water. I feel a bit giddy as I take the tray and make my way back to the labs. When I reach his door, I place the tray on the floor and take a deep breath before knocking loudly. Like a teenager playing ding-dong-ditch, as soon as I knock, I dart toward my own door and slip inside my lab.

My heart is racing for some strange reason. It’s almost like I’m nervous, though I can’t put my finger on exactly why. My soup is good, I’m sure, but it’s not like I’m aiming to be a professional chef anytime soon. No, it’s not the food I’m nervous about. I can’t help but wonder whether he’ll accept my olive branch, or if he’s going to shoot me down.

I need to distract myself. I can’t keep focusing so much on this guy and forcing him to be my friend.

Shaking my head, I move to my workstation and sit down on the stool. I pull my laptop over and open up the documents I was working on earlier. Thankfully, I’m able to focus better now that I’ve actually done something to try and bridge the gap between me and Dr. Pyrrhos.

My eyes skim over the words of the file up on my screen. It’s a historic overview of the mythology of phoenixes, and the different variations the creatures have taken from culture to culture. At first glance, it might seem odd that I’m spending time and energy researching a fantasy creature. I’ve had plenty of people ask me what in the world phoenixes have to do with my research.

I have a theory about phoenixes. I think, in some way, they’re real. Now, I don’t know that this means literal birds that are reborn in flames again and again. What I do believe is that human beings have encountered creatures like the Antarctic hoatzin I’m studying before. If a regenerative species exists in this part of the world, what’s not to say that they didn’t exist in other parts of the world at some point in the past? Mythology is usually based in some kind of reality, albeit reality that’s been enhanced and reshaped as the stories were passed down from generation to generation.

If my theory is correct and there have been other species like the Antarctic hoatzin, with their abilities to regrow limbs and such, then I have to also wonder if there haven’t already been attempts to try and harness that ability. If there have, I want to know about them. It won’t be anything as sophisticated as genetic therapy, which is what I’m currently pursuing, but it could give me some insight into the human perception of regeneration and not only it’s physical impact, but psychological impact as well.

The Antarctic hoatzin is, hopefully, my key to finally figuring how to manipulate human genes to regrow missing limbs and heal other life-altering injuries. I know it sounds kind of crazy, but I’ve made enough progress in my work that I was able to snag joint funding from the United States Office of Veteran Affairs as well as the Department of Defense to continue my work here. Both entities are very interested in what my research could mean for injured soldiers and vets if I’m able to crack the genetic code I’m working on.

The article I’m reading is rather fascinating. There’s a section on legends from China that talk about actual phoenix shifters…people that can transform into the mystical birds. Admittedly, I’d never heard of a phoenix shifter before, but as I read through the section of the article, my heart is racing once more. This feels like something significant. That final bridge between the hoatzin genes and human genes. If there are legends surrounding phoenix shifters, then maybe those are based off actual people who possessed phoenix qualities. Humans that possessed regenerative qualities.

It’s a little out there, but there’s a lot about my research that wouldn’t necessarily be considered conventional. I’m pursuing something that many of my colleagues have called impossible or a fool’s errand…so why shouldn’t I employ some more creative means and ways of thinking to accomplish my goal?

I stay in my lab for well over an hour, reading more and more on the subject of phoenixes, as well as plotting out my eventual observation of the Antarctic hoatzin. I’m going to need some kind of genetic sample from the birds as well, so I have to plan how I’m going to acquire that.

When my stomach suddenly growls, I glance up at the clock and realize what time it is. Unlike Dr. Pyrrhos, I make sure I eat on a regular schedule and that I eat fairly healthy. I was an athlete in high school, and a few years in college, a runner, mostly, so I’m used to making sure my body has the proper nutrition and care to keep myself healthy and fit.

Not only that, though, I also understand the importance of maintaining a healthy routine when one’s physical wellbeing has been…compromised. Altered.

I quickly shake my head and banish the unwanted thoughts that threaten to push their way to the surface of my mind. There’s a twinge in my leg that makes me flinch, but it’s a pain I’m used to and I do my best to ignore it.

Swallowing, I make my way to the door and step out into the hall. I move to turn in the direction of the kitchen, but I stop when I notice the tray on the floor in front of Dr. Pyrrhos door. As I gaze down at it, my lips slowly curl into a smile.

The dishes are empty.

The next few weeks pass relatively calmly. Dr. Pyrrhos stayed pretty much locked in his lab, and I didn’t bother him, but I did continue to cook him meals and leave them outside his door. And to my delight, he continued to eat them. It felt like a victory of sorts. That I was making some kind of progress with him, miniscule as it was.

In regards to my research, though, I feel like I’ve been making great strides. I managed to go out and collect some samples from the Antarctic hoatzins. They are the strangest looking birds I’ve ever seen. Like small dinosaurs that haven’t fully evolved into modern birds yet. I want to do a more extensive observation of them in their habitat yet, but I managed to contain one bird and collect a blood sample.

With that, I’ve been able to look much more closely at their genetic makeup, and it’s been eye-opening. I’m really optimistic that I’m heading in the right direction, and could be on the verge of a breakthrough at long last.

I’m in the kitchen one night making myself dinner, in pretty high spirits given my work that day. Humming to myself, I don’t hear Dr. Pyrrhos nearing the room until he comes stumbling in the doorway.

I let out a little chirp of surprise as I turn around to face him. He stands just over the threshold, blinking at me as though he’s confused as to why I’m there. We stare at each other for a long moment. I’m waiting for him to realize we’re in the same room together and run. To my surprise, however, he doesn’t bolt.

The poor guy looks exhausted. Haggard and with dark circles under his eyes. I’m not sure he’s even fully aware of where he is right now.

“Um…are you okay?” I ask slowly.

His nostrils flare and he furrows his brow before slowly nodding. “Yeah…I’m fine. Just…just been pulling all-nighters lately. Close to a breakthrough.”

My curiosity is instantly peaked, but I manage to keep myself from digging for more. I finally have him in the same room with me after weeks of trying to lure him out of his lab, and I’m not going to blow it by sticking my nose where he has made clear he doesn’t want it. Instead, I wave a hand toward the stir-fry I have sizzling on the stove.

“Are you hungry?” I ask.

He glances over my shoulder at the food, and hesitates. His lips part slightly and I can see in his gaze how hungry he is. I was going to bring him a bowl of this after I’d finished eating myself, but I’m pretty positive he hasn’t eaten anything since the sandwich I took him for lunch earlier in the day. He’s likely struggling between his hunger, and his wariness of being around me.

I don’t say a word and let him work through it, praying that his hunger is strong enough to overpower his other concerns.

When he nods again, I just keep myself from grinning with excitement.

“All right,” he mumbles. “It does smell good…since I’m already here, I suppose I could have some.”

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