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Alan had changed into a fresh, white dress shirt and now lay back on the cushioned medical bed positioned at the center of the private laboratory.

The bed was slightly reclined, designed for comfort during long procedures, yet it did little to ease the heavy stillness in the air.

The laboratory itself was nestled in the secured basement of one of Alan's secluded private estates, miles away from the bustle of the city.

It was a pristine, state-of-the-art facility-equipped with every ...