Chapter 39 - Rogue Power
"Any idea what is wrong with this man?" Massimaferro asked the old man and the Medico, "Is what Medo and Simon did to him permanent?"
"I’ve never seen anything like it," Medico Rasten said, "But I don’t do emergency work anymore."
"It isn’t permanent," the old man said, "All Medoferro and Simon did was overload his brain with the power he was using unconsciously and also deprive him of the use of that power. His mind doesn’t know what to do without it he has had it so long."
"How did he get it," Massimaferro asked, "That’s what I need to know."
"It happens naturally," the old man said, "Sometimes people with the talent will figure it out. The thing is, if you do not know how to use the power correctly it can consume you, much like it did the mind of this man."
"From what I can tell he is healthy in body," Medico Rasten told them, "But from what I have seen, he is clinically insane."
"I’d have to concur with that," the old man nodded, "If he was playing with power he didn’t understand he might have driven himself insane or if he was insane before he started pulling power unconsciously the results are the same. This mind is a goner."
"I hate these decisions," Massimaferro said, "It looks like he is our killer. I don’t think our normal methods will work though."
"There’s no telling when he will wake up," the old man agreed, "He isn’t rational enough to commit suicide either."
"I don’t know what to tell you," Medico Rasten said, "My expertise is in healing people, not in punishment."
"Is there a substance that will put him down for good?" Massimaferro asked her.
"Any number of poisons," she said, "I cannot do that, however."
"Do your medico oaths prevent you from preparing a syringe of something for me?" Massimaferro asked her, "Preferably something quick and painless?"
"No," Medico Rasten agreed, "Curare will do the trick. I’ll be back in ten minutes."
She left the room and left Massimaferro and the old man sitting watching the unconscious murderer. The old man walked around and looked at the complete lack of interaction between the killer and the magnetic environment. Whatever Medoferro had did worked better than they thought it would.
"Old man," Massimaferro said, "Are we going to have to worry about this power screwing up Medo and Simon’s heads?"
"It didn’t affect Taliaferro did it?" the old man shrugged, "Medoferro is probably the best student I will ever have for this. I highly doubt you’ll ever have to worry about defending him much again."
"Simon burned himself," Massimaferro said, "I didn’t know that this power could do that."
"Evidently he opened himself too much," the old man shrugged, "I’ll talk to him and find out what he did. You know what impressed me though?"
"The fact that they were able to work together like that?" Massimaferro asked, "Or the fact that Medo could detect what this lunatic was doing?"
"The fact that Simon could augment Medoferro’s construct is amazing," the old man said, "My teacher could do it, but none of my students have ever been able to do it. Taliaferro and I did it a couple times, but never on the fly and never on anything major."
"We need to keep this under wraps," Massimaferro said, "Letting this out will be asking for trouble."
"I agree," the old man nodded and then pointed at the unconscious prisoner, "You going to pronounce a death sentence on him?"
"Yeah," Massimaferro nodded, "I’ll administer the curare and be done with it."
"Good," the old man smiled, "Nice to know you haven’t lost your balls, Massimaferro."
"I still have them and they are as big as ever," Massimaferro assured the old man, "Let’s just hope they are big enough. We’re facing a war down south and trade negotiations with the Siraqis."
"I’ll stick with teaching," The old man said, "Make sure that Medoferro and Simon show up for training so I can teach Simon how not to hurt himself if they have to do it again."
"Will do," Massimaferro nodded, "Thanks."
The old man went on his way, knowing there was nothing left that he could do for the Mullinix. Massimaferro looked at the man he was about to relieve of his life and closed his eyes. He couldn’t think of it as killing, relieving him of life just sounded so much better to his mind.
He was still sitting there rubbing his head when Medico Rasten came back in. She looked at him and tapped him on the shoulder, causing him to perk up and look at her.
"I have the curare," Medico Rasten said, "Are you sure about this?"
"I have to be," Massimaferro said, "It is my job to be."
"You can’t do everything," the Medico said, "Much as you guys pretend not to be, you are only human."
"Well this son of a bitch isn’t," Massimaferro grunted, "Not with the murders he committed."
"That seems to be the prevailing view," Medico Rasten nodded, "There’s a group outside demanding that he be brought out for execution."
"Tempting," Massimaferro said, "But that won’t help matters."
Insegniferro walked in at this point, seeing that the matters hadn’t changed much. He looked at the syringe and then at the unconscious murderer. Massimaferro looked up at the Elder and wondered what he was thinking.
"I guess Medico Rasten has already told you about the protest outside," Insegniferro said, "Have you made a judgment?"
"He’s guilty as hell," Massimaferro said, "I’m debating on administering curare myself or letting the crowd rip him to pieces."
"Either way will work," Insegniferro said, "It won’t make my other news any better."
"What did LaPorte say?" Massimaferro asked him.
"It is looking like war is more likely," Insegniferro sighed, "But he’s still not being specific on details."
"Was Paulus there?" Massimaferro asked him.
"No," Insegniferro said, "He wasn’t. LaPorte either doesn’t know where he is or is lying."
"This is a mess," Massimaferro said, "How are Simon and Medo doing?"
"They are fine," Insegniferro said, "Simon has half the house staff fawning over him. Medo is sitting with Marina, Stacy and Miranda."
"Any suggestions?" Massimaferro said, "About any of it?"
"Not on him," Insegniferro shrugged, "The other stuff, we’ll figure out a bit later."
At this point the murderer on the table started to stir a little. Massimaferro and Insegniferro stood up and looked at him. Medico Rasten went over to check his pulse and found that he was stirring more.
"He’s waking up," Medico Rasten told them.
"No he’s not," Massimaferro said, "Give me the curare."
Massimaferro took a deep breath and took the syringe from the Medico. He looked at the insane man that was starting to wake up. He found a vein on the man’s arm and jabbed the needle in, pushing the liquid into his veins. It was more than enough to stop the body cold. Once it went into the blood stream the man’s body froze, going into a state that ended his life within minutes.
"I declare him guilty and the death sentence has been carried out," Massimaferro said, growling, "I guess I should go address the crowd."
"You did the right thing," Insegniferro nodded, "I’ll get Medo. We should appear as a united front on this."
"Palace Balcony," Massimaferro nodded, "Ten minutes."
Insegniferro went and found Medoferro sitting with the others and told them what happened. Medoferro was shocked at first, but understood. He followed along and met Massimaferro in the anteroom to the antechamber before the public address balcony. Massimaferro was a bit shaken, but greeted the younger man.
"You ok, Massy?" Medo asked him.
"No," Massimaferro said, "But I had to do it."
"We’ll be with you," Insegniferro promised, "I support you all the way."
"Me too," Medo said, "Let’s do it."
Massimaferro nodded and they headed out onto the balcony. The crowds looked up and they could tell th
at they were expectant. It had been a trying day for everyone, especially the three Mullinix themselves. Massimaferro looked for a minute and then made a gesture to silence the crowd.
"It has been a long and trying day for the Empire," Massimaferro said loudly, "This case has been a shame. A shame on us and a shame that it had to happen at all. But this man is not the norm for this nation. This is not the norm for our people. This man has committed unspeakable crimes that have had to be answered and answered they have been!"
The crowd erupted in approval. This was the type of thing that they wanted to hear. Massimaferro took some comfort from the crowd’s approval. Medo and Iggy looked at each other and nodded, glad that they were giving the crowds what they wanted.
"I have reviewed the evidence," Massimaferro continued, "And I have pronounced the verdict! This man is guilty of these killings and most likely a lot more. By the power vested in me as Mullinix, I have declared the ultimate sentence. As he was not of sound enough mind to perform the act himself I have taken responsibility and administered a fatal dose of Curare. This man will not kill again!"
Again the crowd roared their approval. This was exactly what they had wanted to hear. There was a chant in the corner that they wanted the body, however, something that made all three Mullinix shudder. Massimaferro looked at the others.
"What the hell do I do?" Massimaferro asked them, "Appease them or appeal for decorum?"
"They are riled," Medo said, "Give them what they want. It won’t hurt him at this point."
"It’s gruesome," Insegniferro said, "But Medo is right. No need to risk a riot to preserve a corpse."
"I agree," Massy sighed, "Here goes."
He turned back to the crowd and passed them a smile. He made a public order to display the body and quickly retreated inside. The others followed him quickly, looking over the quickly pacified crowd.
"Marianna…" Massimaferro said, "I need a drink…"