Project I.R.I.S.

Rubbing the center of his chest, Jack winced in pain. His chest felt like someone had beat him senseless and cut him open for good measure. Yet, peeking under his shirt, he saw no scars of bruises. Squinting through hazy eyes, he asked Marvin and Henrik in a strained voice. "Where is my brother?" Marvin shifted uneasily, looking to Henrik. Henrik glared back at Marvin, gesturing for Marvin to answer. Rolling his eyes in response, Marvin reluctantly told Jack in a gentle voice. "He's... Anti's got him. I'm sorry." Jack didn't have to hear more. Flipping the covers off of himself, he swung his legs off the bed. Marvin rushed to his side, warning him anxiously. "No! Don't!" Swatting his hands off him, Jack snapped out. "He's got my brother! I'm not just gonna sit here." He tried to stand, but the pain in his chest flared until he sat back down. Henrik ushered Marvin aside, Dropping to his knees before Jack. Pulling his stethoscope up to his ears, Henrik slipped the rounded end up under Jack's shirt.

The shock of the cold metal made him flinch, while Henrik quietly told him. "Sorry. Just breathe for me." Taking slow deep breaths, Jack could hear his own breathing wheezing and straining. Lowering the stethoscope to his shoulders, Henrik informed him gently. "Jack... I love your brother too. But you are not strong enough to leave. You need to rest and let me take care of you." Jack shook his head, stubbornly telling them. "He'd come looking for me! I have to save him." Henrik placed his hands on Jack's shoulders, pleading desperately. "I know. We all want him back... but you can't save him if your dead. You'll just be sealing his fate. Please, Jack..." Reluctantly, Jack groaned in pain as he laid back down. At the foot of the bed, Marvin mumbled out. "He's not looking good." Henrik tugged Jack's legs under the blanket, bitterly scolding Marvin. "Give me a break. I only just got him here. I can't just snap my fingers and he's better. But if you'd like to contribute to more than just negative output, be my guest!"

Glaring at Henrik, Marvin snapped back. "My magic doesn't work like that! You think I wouldn't heal him if I could?! I'm not a healer! I specialize in divination and protective spells! I'm still studying! What's your excuse?!" Henrik straightened up, starting to yell back. "I've been working my ass off to save his life! While you've been sitting on your ass in that study looking into a crystal ball!" Marvin's voice rose louder as he retorted over Henrik. "I've been trying to figure out how to deal with Anti! You know, THE REAL PROBLEM!" Henrik opened his mouth, but Jack screamed out in a broken voice. "STOP IT!" Panting hard, Jack rubbed his aching chest. Leaving them in silence for a minute or two as they stared at him with worried faces. Once he caught his breath, he told them in a lower tone of voice. "Please... stop. Fighting isn't going to save Chase... or me." Henrik lowered a hand to check Jack's pulse, while Jack continued a bit weakly. "How long have I got?"

Marvin lowered his gaze to the floor, mumbling out. "The other times we tried this... you didn't make it past the first week." Henrik pulled an oxygen mask from beside the bed, carefully playing it over Jack's nose and mouth, when he stated confidently. "That won't happen this time. It took me a few tries... but I know what I.R.I.S. did to you now. I can fix you. I won't lose you again. I promise, Jack." Jack placed a comforting hand on his friend's wrist, taking deep inhales of fresh air that the mask pumped out to help him expand his lungs. At the foot of the bed, Marvin leaned on the wooden footboard, dryly stating aloud. "I.R.I.S. is just half of it. Most of the damage was Anti. He is pure antimatter. Fusing with Jack, he practically dismantled him from the inside out. That's... That's a lot of damage to undo." Henrik shot Marvin another glare, until Jack squeezed his wrist and strained out. "If anyone can figure it out. It would be you two. I believe in you." Henrik let a tiny smile tug at the corners of his lips.

While Marvin tightened his grip on the bedframe and asked nervously. "But what if we can't? Jack, I think I.R.I.S. lured Anti here. They found out he existed and want to use him to... to power everything. To make themselves rich. To take over people's lives!" Tapping Henrik's wrist for him to move the mask off his face a moment, he told Marvin seriously. "I know for a fact they did... Marvin, you can't fight Anti. He's too strong... and he's going to get stronger. But... if it is true that he's a... a darker clone of me. No one knows me better than you. You can play his mind games. You won't be able to save everyone... but you can try. Just promise me one thing..." Marvin shook his head, his tears tearing up like he knew what he was going to say and didn't want to hear it again. Henrik placed a hand on Jack's shoulder, squeezing it like he too knew what was coming. Swallowing, Jack, told them both in a strong firm voice. "Both of you. Promise me that if you have to kill me to stop Anti and save Chase. That you won't fucking hesitate. Promise me!"