Open Fire

The next photograph was slapped onto the table.

Chen Zhao was stunned.

Cezanne in the photograph could no longer be described as an animal. He had become something demonic.

His body had swollen further, nearly as large as a cow. At the same time, several protrusions had grown from his back, looking very much like... hands!

His eyes were still closed, but the corners had widened further, as though his eyes were continuing to grow.

"This photograph was taken a week ago," Wang De explained. "North America can no longer determine whether Cezanne still has consciousness. He raves in his hospital room all day. His body secretes a green acidic fluid so corrosive that it ate through the iron bedframe. A nurse went in to bring him food and was hit by a spray of strong acid. Her entire head was burned through."

"And they still haven't killed him? Why are they keeping him alive?" Chen Zhao was starting to get angry.

"After all, he was a decorated astronaut. North America tried to cure him. They injected all sorts of antibiotics and miscellaneous drugs, but none of them worked. They even used radiation therapy, but it worsened the mutation, so they had no choice but to stop." Wang De said, "Then it got out of control."

"Out of control?" Chen Zhao's eyes widened. "What does that mean?"

"If it hadn't gotten out of control, North America wouldn't have sought our help." Wang De held out a hand, and a staff member beside him immediately handed over a map.

Wang De spread the map open and pointed to a red dot in the center.

"This is Fort Detrick Biochemical Base, where Cezanne was being treated. After Cezanne came out of the return capsule, he was transported to Fort Detrick." Wang De's