Her Queen of Hearts

The new drug was a success.

Born under the name of science for the cause against mutants, it was developed later into the very weapon that threatened the existence of those who are different. But at the present moment, it was a mere substance that could neutralise these extraordinary abilities for a maximum of ten uninterrupted minutes. However, no matter what dosage one used, the substance could only have the maximum timed effect. But it also served another side of the coin, which meant even the slightest dose was as strong as any amount. The biggest disappointment to those highly interested in the compound was it only neutralised powers temporarily, no other intended effect could be added.

The company that managed this compound had designed it so to be chemically untraceable and dissolvable in most substances. It had no known side effects, as all their test subjects were disposed of as soon as they were tried on. Nonetheless, an antidote for the drug was made to restore the primary condition of the consumer.

The compound was a complex combination of some of the most reactive and radioactive elements known to Earth made into a single polymer. Potassium, fluorine and uranium had the largest proportions, which gave the result its 'power neutralising' properties. It has no taste, no smell, had a pH of 7, existed as a white powder as a solid and dissolved in water to give a colourless solution. This made tracing the ionic compound highly impossible. However, as it was an ionic compound, it could not dissolve in organic solvents such as chloroform and ethanol to have additional effects of unconsciousness on the mutants.

Those interested were hoping it could dope the freaks as well as reduce their resistance abilities, giving them the ultimate edge on the enemy. The national army was intending to use the solution in shooting darts and as a gas, more of the latter since it can affect more people. They would distribute it to the official and local police as a national effort to them take down. In addition, they would distribute it to hospitals and even schools as a form of protection and prevention against freak outbreaks.

The mass production of the drug was minimised to further refine it and transform its innocent properties into a more lethal compound. Only a small section of the government knew about this project and the secret was preserved well. The company was able to perform tests on mutants sentenced to the death penalty or less than that, then killed them off as soon as the test was complete, which was necessary to avoid a public scandal. They never noted any side effects surfacing in the short term the poor souls lived after being injected with the solution.

The company was determined to find a way to add more properties, favourably deadly properties to stun, weaken, and neutralise the entire race.

Only a small section of the government knew about this project and the secret was preserved well.

***

Someone climbed onto the ledge along the wall of a warehouse by the black market. He peered through the glass and at the crates inside, assisted by only the pale moonlight provided by a slim crescent grin in the pitch black sky. His black eyes scanned the entire unmanned scene, spying out every security measure taken to prevent a break-in and a potential target. It was just too bad he knew what he was doing. With a lifetime of thieving under his belt, which was a part of his protection suit, he found what he wanted, unlatched the window and climbed in swiftly. Pulling a gadget out of his trench coat, he locked it into his staff and fired it between the walls, so it made a portable tightrope. He pulled himself across and hovered over a high pile of boxes above the laser sensors.

He opened one of the lids gingerly. His red pupils glowed with satisfaction as he grabbed as many sachets of the pills as his pockets could hold indistinctly. Thirty seconds passed and he was back out into the night, a smile broke upon his angular face.