Synaptor-E

In 2050, The name on everyone's lips was "Synaptor," a drug that had the power to unlock the full potential of the human mind. With a single dose, individuals could experience heightened intelligence, expanded memory, enhanced cognitive abilities, and enhanced physical strength allowing them to achieve feats of brilliance and physical prowess that would have been impossible before.

The creator of this miracle drug was Dr. Adaline Curie, a brilliant scientist who had dedicated her life to understanding the intricacies of the human brain and body. With her revolutionary creation, Synaptor promised to transform society and redefine human progress.

However, as the drug's popularity grew, so did a dark and unexpected side effect. Individuals who abused Synaptor, taking larger doses or using it too frequently, began to display disturbing changes in their behavior. Their enhanced intelligence became twisted, and they started to manipulate others for money, power or the drug itself. The more they used the drug, the more their morality eroded, until they became cold, ruthless killers obsessed with obtaining more Synaptor at any cost.

As the number of Synaptor abusers, known as "Cogno-Reavers," increased, New York City was plunged into chaos. The once-thriving city who’s only problems were homelessness, honking horns and the occasional mugging, was now ravaged by violence and destruction as the Cogno-Reavers turned on their fellow citizens in a twisted bid to assert their dominance and steal from and maim everyone humanly possible. Synaptor turned the kindest men into monsters.

It soon became clear that Synaptor was a double-edged sword, capable of both elevating and destroying humanity.

Dr. Curie, horrified by the results of her creation, was determined to find a solution. When she couldn’t, she planned on going to the media to warn against the side effects and to tell people to slow down and not use so much of the drug.

She was soon assassinated by Bio-corp, the company who bought her patent for Synaptor, because they had found out about her plan through a media contact and took preemptive action, so they could continue to sell their profitable drug at any cost. They cared more about money than people.

There was a small group of scientists, led by Dr. Nova Helix, who was a close personal friend and confidant of Dr. Adaline Curie, who was also working on a cure.

He knew Bio-Corp was behind the assassination, even if they publicly denied it.

He spent the whole day mumbling “Damn them. Damn them to hell,” to himself, to the dismay of his best friends and coworkers, Dr. Jimmy and Dr. Bob.

“Don’t worry, Dr. Helix. We know of a possible cure to these side effects that could help bring Bio-Corp down,” Dr. Jimmy said.

“It’s a new mineral from the Congo,” Dr Bob said.

He bought tickets to the Congo immediately and had gone deep into the jungles of the Congo in an attempt to find this new mineral. When after several days of searching he couldn’t find it, he embarked on a perilous new journey through the now-dangerous city of Kinshasa, which was dealing with its own problems involving the constant threat of several warlords like the leader of M23 trying to take over, to get permission from the President of the Congo, President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, to find a rare and precious material known as "Empathium."

“You are a funny man, Dr. Helix. Empathium is only found deep inside Nyiragongo volcano. It has been very active lately. There is a reason nobody has been able to mine it. But if you want to try, you have my permission,” the president said and laughed.

“Fixing the side effect of Synaptor is more important then my life. We must find a way to retrieve it, at any cost,” Dr. Helix said.

“But like you said, this substance, found deep within the volcano’s core, is only believed to have the power to reverse the effects of Synaptor and restore balance to the minds of those who had become addicted. There is no guarantee your foolish plan will even work, even if you do find this Empathium you are looking for. It’s all speculation,” the president said.

“It’s worth the risk,” Dr. Helix said.

“You are an honorable man. I wish you luck,” the president said.

Dr. Helix said goodbye and left.

Dr. Jimmy and Dr. Bob followed close behind.

“I didn’t know this was inside a volcano. I don’t think I can do this. Sorry Dr. Helix,” Dr. Jimmy said.

“Fine, go home Jimmy. You always were a bit of a wimp. If you’re going to be a wet napkin, go home. Nobody likes a limp noodle,” Dr. Helix said and turned to Dr. Bob.

“It’s just you and me now,” Dr. Helix said.

“Well, I’m going to have to go home too. I don’t want to die in a volcano. A bear attack, maybe, because that would be cool and I could possibly fight the bear off. But not a volcano,” Dr. Bob said.

“Cowards, the both of you. Your mothers would be ashamed. The fate of the world is at stake and your afraid of a little heat,” Dr. Helix said.

“It’s more than a little heat! It’s a freaking active volcano,” Jimmy said.

“Shut up and go home,” Dr. Helix said.

Dr. Helix called a cab and told the driver to drop him off as close as he could get to the volcano. The driver looked puzzled, but did as he was told.

“It’s just me now,” Dr. Helix mumbled to himself and kicked the dirt, causing dust and pebbles to go flying.

Dr. Helix arrived at the volcano but was there for longer then he expected.

After months of struggle and countless setbacks, Dr. Helix finally managed to extract a small amount of Empathium from the volcano by sending in a drone with a hook net to capture some. He narrowly managed not to fly the drone into any lava.

With the clock ticking, he rushed home to his lab and began synthesizing a new drug he called "Synaptor-E," a potent blend of Synaptor and Empathium designed to counteract the devastating side effects of Synaptor abuse.

On the day the Cogno-Reavers prepared to launch another assault on New York City so they could take over and gleefully demand Bio-corp manufacture and distribute more of the highly addictive Synaptor, Dr. Helix powderized his new medicine and released Synaptor-E into the city's air supply. As the new drug spread through the streets, it began to work its magic on the Cogno-Reavers, restoring their humanity and halting their descent into insanity my blocking the effects of Synaptor. All of the terrorists who took had been taking the drug and participating in the take over of New York City immediately forgot their plans, for they were no longer emotionless drug enhanced sociopathic geniuses.

Slowly but surely, New York City began to heal from the wounds inflicted by Synaptor abuse.

Dr. Helix won the Nobel peace prize and New York City was now able to adapt to the existence of this powerful drug, and strict regulations were put in place to ensure it was used responsibly and for the benefit of all. Anyone taking Synaptor legally had to also take Synaptor-E the next day. The citizens of New York City had learned a valuable lesson: don’t overdue medicine or any drug, it’s not worth your humanity. All progress must be pursued with caution, lest it becomes the very thing that destroys us.

The very next day, the mayor of New York City awarded Dr. Helix the key to the city and exposed Bio-Corps. He told the media they knew of the side effects of Synaptor thanks to Dr. Curie and instead of doing the right thing and warning people, they had her assassinated.

The CEO of Bio-corps was arrested and charged with several crimes, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and public fraud for hiding the side effects of his medicine.

Dr. Helix was now a hero.

****

Months went by and people were now experiencing the side effects of Synaptor-E. In addition to Synaptor giving everyone super intelligence and greater physical strength, Synaptor-E gave everyone random super powers like laser vision, flying and invisibility. And eventually, the empathy effects wore off and people became emotionless again.

And while Synaptor-E had put Bio-Corps out of business, it had made Dr. Helix millions, and it was now his job to hide the side effects or lose everything.

Dr. Jimmy and Dr. Bob showed up at his door threatening to expose the side effects of Synaptor-E to the public if Dr. Helix did not, so he would have to have them both assassinated.