Chapter 140: The Good and The Bad News
Dr. Rebecca Lewis, Professor of Genetic Medicine at The Center for Inherited Disease Research (CIDR), had built a distinguished career. She had earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin, where she met Sarika under unusual circumstances... an incident that would mark the beginning of a lifelong friendship.
It had been a quiet morning. The road was empty, and the pedestrian signal had just turned green. Rebecca stepped onto the zebra crossing while she was thinking about her studies. From the opposite side, Sarika was also crossing when a speeding car suddenly ignored the signal and charged ahead. Rebecca froze in shock, unable to move. Without hesitation, Sarika dashed forward, grabbed Rebecca by the waist, and pulled her out of the car’s path just in time.
That moment became the foundation of a powerful bond. Sarika, who was then collaborating with a research team studying the sociocultural anthropology of the Caral-Supe civilization, also known as the Norte Chico civilization of coastal Peru... had always carried a calm, commanding presence. Her knowledge spanned history, science, and politics, and she was working with an international team on the origins of Andean civilizations, focusing on their urban planning, sunken plazas, and early pyramid architecture. This culture, which thrived between 3000 and 1800 BCE, was widely considered one of the oldest known civilizations in the Latin America.
Rebecca, equally driven but from a completely different field, found herself fascinated by Sarika’s world. Sarika, in turn, admired Rebecca’s curiosity and clarity of thought. Despite coming from vastly different disciplines, the two hit it off immediately. Over time, their bond deepened. Rebecca’s passion for genetics and Sarika’s grounding in ancient cultures often led to late-night conversations about evolution, mutations, and destiny.
After completing her undergraduate degree, Rebecca moved on to Johns Hopkins University, where she pursued her PhD and later joined the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine as a researcher. Sarika returned to India and took on more responsibility within her clan, continuing her work both in the scholarly and supernatural realms. Despite the distance, they remained close, exchanging updates and supporting each other through life’s twists and turns.
When Sarika needed to conduct a sensitive paternity test... one that involved the King of Werewolves and Eleanor Elizabeth Raynor, there was no question in her mind about who to trust. Rebecca had the discretion, technical knowledge, and access to a private lab facility where the data could be handled off the record. The confidentiality of the result was paramount. Sarika knew that if the gene sequence fell into the wrong hands, the consequences could be catastrophic... not just for Erevan and Eleanor, but for the entire werewolf society.
Upon entering the lab, Rebecca greeted her with a smile and pointed toward the chair across from her desk. "Sarika, sit down. The report’s in my drawer. I figured you’d want to see it for yourself."
She circled the desk, sat down, and opened a drawer, pulling out a sealed envelope. She handed it to Sarika with a curious look in her eyes.
"I have to say," Rebecca began, "the genetic samples you gave me were fascinating. The sequences were... unusual, to say the least. It almost looked like a human mutation... something extraordinary, maybe even evolved beyond current human limits."