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I narrowed aze roamed his boat A speedboat I half expected to see the letters IBSI painted on the side of the vessel But I did not

"Why do you say that he will die?" I asked, trying to keepwith your son, exactly? What did the IBSI do to him?" And who are you?

The man’s face tilted to me, his expression earnest "The IBSI is in the process of developing a formula that, if realized, will enhance a human’s prowess to levels never reached before Its purpose is to enhance abilities in combat, but also self defense…"

"Levels never reached before?" Derek interrupted "I have seen for htened abilities in IBSI members Have they not already developed such a formula?"

The man shook his head "It sounds like what you have witnessed is just the early stages They are developing soh," he added quickly, "I have not been privy to any further details about it"

"What was your son doing with them in the first place?" Corrine asked

"He was a test subject," Atticus replied "A willing test subject, I should add"

Willing?

"W-Was--Is--he an IBSI member?" I choked

"He was, and is, not," Atticus replied "And neither ao… or what’s left of it"

"He doesn’t sound like he’s froreed "His mother was British"

The fact that Atticus used the past tense while describing Lawrence’s istered into undergo so like that?" I asked

Atticus’ expression darkened "He did it for his mother"

My face scrunched in confusion "Huh?"

"IBSI’s pay was high My as dying of lung cancer We needed money to treat her… The cruel irony is, she passed away last week, before Lawrence could have everin his throat "But I had no idea about any of his plans If I’d known that Lawrence had been planning to apply for the position, of course I never would’ve let him do it He left without my consent I only found out where he’d disappeared to, and that he’d been selected, when I was contacted by the IBSI less than twenty-four hours ago… explaining to ed and if I did not e to reclaim him from you, the consequences of the half-completed procedure would kill hio headquarters They’re the only ones who kno to fix him"

"B-But ould they select Lawrence for such a test in the first place?" I stammered "Isn’t the point to enhance humans’ capabilities? He’s not even a huht?"