Konrad's phone rings....

'Hello'

'Konrad?'

'Ah, Sergio...my delusional friend - how did you like the Sanctity? I trust you enjoyed your little mind vacation...'

'I'm not sure what that was all about - Does everybody and everything seem incredibly beautiful to you when you take that stuff?'

'Ha ha ha...once you've seen the light, it's hard to readjust to normal life my friend - I'm having another party in a month, and of course you're invited...We'll continue our game of "what is Sergio's real job?" '

'Yes, well, we need to talk about that Konrad - I'm quite certain you would have killed me had I not managed to escape the dental chair - and still I feel a strange kinship to you  -  we have unfinished business between us.'

'Where are you right now?'

'I have the GPS in my phone bouncing off several different towers, all random, and you'll never find me until I want you to. Do you want to have sex with everyone when you're on the Sanctity Konrad?'

'I want to have sex with everyone when I'm not on Sanctity, Sergio! - The Sanctity makes all of our inner desires rise to the surface  - we are no longer inhibited by shame or societal norms, and the true loving nature of our selves is revealed - Society's boundaries and pathos are washed away, leaving a childlike innocence - a reverence for all creatures and life. Even a mother fucker like myself has redeemable qualities in God's eyes -  Sanctity  has given me faith in God and an inner knowing that anything I do on this earth is His plan.'

'Some of the things you said while I was strapped into your chair don't mesh with your faith, Konrad'

'And you think you can change my mind about anything, Sergio?'

'You have a point. I still have to tell you about my misadventure - Who else could understand? I alternately curse and bless you for hitting me with that syringe. It was fascinating  - my experience can be summed up quite simply - we're all one, and it's all love - That's it, the secret of the universe. Every person and every living thing I saw seemed to have a soul - a soul that I could communicate with - there was an unspoken understanding of our interconnectedness - I'm still quite fuzzy about a lot of the last three days, but I know I have never felt so much love and deep guttural satisfaction during sex - and it was just as intense holding hands and staring into people's eyes as it was to be entwined completely in the throes of passion. You have created a drug that will either save the planet and mankind, or lead to the utter destruction of everything good in our world.'

'Tell me something I don't know, Sergio. Let me guess - you're going to be the one who saves the world from Konrad and his evil drugs - how noble...'

'Konrad, your reputation precedes you - You are notorious for a thousand miles in any direction - You are feared, respected, loathed - you threatened my life just three days ago, and I can't figure out how you can be so ruthless when you've invented a drug like Sanctity. 

I absorbed the slightest dose and had a sexually religious experience with a hooker.  You've tried it at least a few times, yet still have the instincts of a cold calculating business mogul, ready to take out any and all threats that stand between you and your goals. '

'He who creates the poison also creates the antidote.'

'There's an antidote to Sanctity?'

'I can never be too careful Sergio - Like with you , for instance. You were quite believable as the chemical salesman, until the point where you pulled your escape from the chair - You've had some sort of training - I can't put my finger on it - you're not Interpol because my labs would have been swarmed  with agents by now, but no chemical salesman would be capable of weaving such a deceptive web of lies, or of infiltrating my labs within a few weeks of meeting me'

'Konrad,  I've been stumbling around a brothel for days (actually quite enjoying myself) but now that I've landed back in reality, we have some serious matters to address. Ozerov has set a meeting with me tomorrow. I think it is in your best interests to make sure I live long enough to report the details of our meeting back to you. Of course I want something from you in return for handing you Ozerov's head on a platter, but we'll discuss that later.'

Sergio, I'm fascinated that you think I need anything from you - I'm quite capable of taking Ozerov out on my own, and although I do thank you for exposing this weakness in my lab staff, you will never live to see me fall from my position of power. In fact, I'll give you a heads up - prostitutes have no scruples - their bodies and the information they get from loose lipped Johns can be bought for a price - Your little hideaway at the brothel did not go unnoticed by me.  You may want to leave Minsk, and take your girlfriend or whatever she is. Things are going to get ugly for the two of you if you continue to interfere with my life's work.'

'Things are going to get ugly anyway if you continue to develop Celtox and Sanctity...'

'I'll have a little of both ready for you the next time we meet.'

'How can you be such a bastard after taking Sanctity, Konrad?

The antidote takes me right back to my old familiar self. Whenever I've had enough tripping, I take a cure. All my experimentals have an antidote, but I'm not stupid enough to let anybody know what or where those are. So you see, I am in control of the entire situation here, and you better move along before somebody you love gets killed.'

'It's unfortunate we won't get to develop our "friendship", Konrad.'

 'Death is a development'

'I've had enough of your threats Konrad, have a good life...'

'Enjoy the rest of yours Sergio, it may not be very long'...

click....

Nikita, 

Good morning! 

How are you? (besides being the most amazing lover in the world...I'd go into detail about the feelings I'm having toward you, but we don't have time)

Above is a transcript of the conversation I just had with Konrad - Are you certain your cover is good? You are the only chance we'll have to get an antidote for the Celtox and the Sanctity, and after revealing to Konrad that Ozerov and I are to meet tomorrow our time is running short  - I know you said they have a meeting later today - I hope I haven't put Ozerov in a position he can't get out of - I'm sure you got the surveilance kit from Grigori last time you saw him - You must be sure to attach the micro transmitter microphone to something he carries with him - maybe his clothing or briefcase - I know you can figure that out yourself.  

I'm meeting Grigori for a late lunch, as he tells me an important side mission needs to take place this evening  - I was bummed for a moment until my career priorities asserted themselves - I really wanted to see you again, but the mission must go on, and perhaps this exact moment isn't the best time to be lost in your arms. (Well, at least for the mission's sake.)

Be careful my love - we still don't know if Konrad and Ozerov are setting a trap for the both of us. I'll keep my receiver on - you know the signal to send me if you are in grave danger  - I hope that never happens - I want the next signal from you to be whispered in my ear, at close range....'more'

S