Mr. Montgomery's POV

Mr. Montgomery held up the little vial and rotated it back and forth as he watched the light dance and change colors. It was good to know people in the right places. His request to push through this red liquid with the FDA had raised some eyebrows when they were given no supporting documents, but so far the results have spoken for themselves.

As he looked through the reports he could only call them unbelievable. This so called “lesser” grade of the drug seemed to have regenerative properties. He wanted to trust John but verification was always best. Too many times in the past promising drugs let him down.

The pain was almost constant now. Just to operate he needed painkillers, and they robbed him of his wits. It was a horrible catch 22. Either he would be in too much pain to think or his once agile mind would be chained.

That was always the most scary aspect of aging to him. Mr. Montgomery had always felt that all he needed to succeed in the world was already right between his ears, but age started to rob him.

He felt all the pain now, for once off the painkillers. Unqwarking the vial he drank it in one fluid motion. Then he sat down and closed his eyes. As the effects took place he could only smile. Just as promised from the FDA researchers. The pain had been dulled and his mind was still clear. Whatever the liquid was, it would dominate the current markets.

Mr. Montgomery picked up a file on his desk and looked at a picture of Charlotte. What was her game? Why had she not submitted a patent? Who ever controlled this substance would become very wealthy and influential. Unfortunately so far all queries about obtaining its creation process were shot down. This Charlotte seemed to have no interest in selling the liquids secrets.

That concerned him. If they had confidence in their product why all the hiding? Secrets made him nervous, especially with so much money being involved. He wanted to believe that everything was above board but he had been burned too many times in the past. Too many wonder drugs that cured one thing only to cause an extra handful of problems.

Calling a number he seldom used the call was quickly answered and a brusk “What,” was heard on the other line.

Clearing his throat he said “I have a job for you. File is here. Double pay. I need this done now.”

“Risk assessment?”

“Low. Former tech company research manager.”

“Done.”

Mr. Montgomery hoped he wasn't making a mistake, but so far this man hadn't let him down. But it was all too common these so called cures were worse than the disease.

Looking down at the empty vial he wondered how long the effects would last in humans, and what the downsides would be. Because there were always downsides.

Forrest’s POV

Forrest was just beginning to wake up and he had an odd feeling of optimism. As he opened his eyes he was surprised to find his arms wrapped around a sleeping woman. His movements must have woke her up because she let out a grown and then looked back towards him.

“Morning handsome!”

Forrest was tongue tied. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen was in his bed. Damn why couldn't he remember anything! There were bits and pieces but it was like a dream now.

Scarlet then began to kiss him. As he was losing himself in the moment he heard loud footsteps coming. Putting it out of his mind he lost himself while returning her affections.

And the door open.

“Hey Forrest you up yet you drunk bastard? I got Jim to sign on with us but his conditions are guiding him to the western mountains first. Something about a temple.

Scarlet was on the opposite side from the door. And she mercilessly kept kissing him. With Davis standing not five feet away. His brain broke. He couldn't make decisions.

Then he heard Davis get closer and he said “Oh! Damn, sorry. Didn't notice.”

Forrest heard the door thunk close a second later. And then Scarlet immediately stop kissing him and started to dress. Before he said anything she was out the door. What?

Scarlet’s POV

Scarlet was snickering as she left Forrest's room. Looks like she had Davis pegged right. Total prude! The look on his face was hilarious!

And then there was Forrest. It was probably childish but who cares? Besides it was always fun to watch them chase, and she gave him a good incentive just in case he forgot last night. Scarlet found her extra stash and waited, she should be able to hear the conversation from here.

Davis' POV

Davis went back to the kitchen and tried to wrap his head around that woman being with his friend. She was trouble.

A few minutes later his friend walked in. Davis said “Sorry about walking in. Still down to business. The western mountains, you familiar with a temple there?”

Forrest looked thoughtful and then said “Yes, I think I know the area. But it's very dangerous out that way. We are taking two people back with us still, right?”

“Yea. There is a middle age man and his wife that the council decided on.”

Forrest asked “And we are taking these people to the mountains?”

“Maybe? That's why I asked you. You would probably know better.”

Forrest looked to be in thought for a few seconds when he said “There are two options as I see it. Taking people who are unable to defend themselves in that area is a bad idea. Option one is we can do this errand first and then double back to pick them up. The other option is to take them along. I know a good position that a couple people could defend easily. If we drop them there and Jim and I head off to this temple we could probably be stealthy enough to avoid the beasts out there in a pair.”

Davis shook his head and said “We are already losing time going on this side trip. The whole point to bring Jim was to be safer. If we wait any longer word will reach Jacksberg before we get there. That is not a good option.”

Forrest nodded and said "Yea, if we doubled back it would cost another two weeks at minimum. But if we bring along some rope we can scale down a few of the mountain sides and get back to the main road. So all in all its a two and a half weeks travel time vs four weeks travel time."

Davis nodded and said "Looks like we are just waiting on Jim then."

He nodded to his friend.

Jim's PoV

Jim called up Charlotte and said "A game just came out that I really want to beat, is there anything you are going to need from me in the next couple weeks?"

In an annoyed voice she said "Pay."

"Oh yea, you have to pay people if you are the boss. Wow that kinda sucks."

Charlotte replied saying "Look I am really excited to work on the project again, even if we have to start from day one. Still I can't work for free forever. My attorney is not cheap. I've been using up the remaining funds from the initial silver sale. That contract is looking a lot more promising than this drug scheme. They keep wanting more than we are willing to offer."

"What do you mean more?"

Charlotte said "They wanted to outright buy the formula. Then they tried to work out a deal where we manufacture it but they get exclusive buying rights. Then when that failed they wanted access to a supply of it on a monthly basis. It's hard to pin them down. They want more than just a one time deal."

"Hrmmmm. I might be able to get more, but it's going to take time. Do you think it would be worthwhile?"

Charlotte yelled "Seriously? All this time you could get more? Do you know how much pressure I was under?"

Jim corrected himself and said "I can get more of the crappy versions. I might be able to get something close to the good one, it's a maybe though."

Stiltedly Charlotte said "Yes. Yes it would."

Jim asked "Can't we look for another buyer? This guy seems annoying. We have the intellectual property rights for the project now, so there isn't as big of a rush. Do you think we could get a better deal if we shopped around?"

Charlotte thought about it for a bit and said "Yes. Probably. I'll look into it. If the FDA passes it then we would have a lot more options. Can you drop a few of them off? Samples might help."

"Okay, Is there anything else?"

Charlotte said "Forgetting something so soon Jim?"

"Uhh. I don't think so?"

"Pay."

Jim thought about it and said "Can you just pay yourself double what you made before? Money is annoying."

"I'll have the contract ready when you drop them off."

Private Investigator's PoV

Charles was staking out the target's house. His objective was to find the supplier of this red liquid drug that Mr. Montgomery was interested in. Not even two hours into watching the house he saw a car pull up.

A man came out with a box. The man then left the box on the porch and rang the doorbell and started to run back to his car. Was this a prank?

His target came out and started sprinting after the man while holding up a piece of paper. Before the man could leave the woman named Charlotte was able to block the cars path and put the piece of paper on the windshield. The man then took the piece of paper and looked to have signed it then gave it back. Was this the supplier already?

Charles was looking through at the feed from his camera and zoomed in on the package. Charlotte picked it up and then looked inside. Pulling out one red bottle Charles smiled. He loved the easy cases.

Jim's PoV

Jim couldn't believe how fast Charlotte could run! Man he should have put more effort into getting away. He totally didn't expect her to run after him. Looking outside he saw that it was getting dark. Figuring he would start his epic quest in the morning Jim tried to go to sleep.

But for some reason he couldn't. Damn jitters. It was like waiting for Christmas when he was a kid! He couldn't get to sleep. Jim was half wondering if anxiety would be considered as a negative status effect. He was considering taking an elixir in place of a sleeping pill when he heard something. And then he heard it again.

Too bad his sense panel did not work in his world. Wait. Or did it? Jim tried to think back to the one time that he used his five senses menu while having an eye in each world. It had been when Princess and Fluffy were biting his foot when he was in his car. He changed his vision setting at that time to see through the night in his right eye. Did his left eye's vision change at all? The road was well lit, and he wasn't focusing on that eye at the time.

Jim shrugged and fiddled with it. He fiddled and saw to his surprise that it worked! Once he bumped up his vision his left eye could see in the dark! Jim shifted his right eye back over to his world and found to his annoyance that his night vision turned off.

Sighing Jim shifted his right eye to the other world, and then closed his right eye. Woot! Worked. One eyed night vision! Jim heard the noise again and started slowly making his way downstairs while looking around with one eye.

It didn't take him long to find a man pilfering through his stuff. Currently he was scanning through Jim's mail, which was on the kitchen counter. What kind of burglar looked through mail?

After a seconds thought Jim figured he would just punch the guy then call the cops. He cocked his right fist back and then threw a hard punch. Only for it to completely miss him and smash into the countertop. Ouch!

No! How could he have forgotten! One eye means no depth perception! Maybe next time he should just turn on the lights like a normal person...

Private Investigator's PoV

Charles wasn't finding anything relevant. He saw the computer but figured that would take the longest time, so he looked around some first. Still more nothing. As he was looking through his mail a massive bang went off right next to him. He gulped. There was a man standing menacingly over him now. By the letters he just looked through his name was Jim.

Glancing next to him he gulped when he saw cracks in the stone countertops. That was enough for him, he was out. Charles ran away as fast as he could.