Vance paced back and forth in the luxurious apartment he was using as his hideout. The news of Ethan's successful application for the second phase of clinical trials had reached him, igniting a fury that threatened to consume him. His empire was crumbling, and now this—the very person he had wronged was on the brink of a monumental breakthrough.
Vance grabbed his phone, his fingers trembling with rage, and dialed a number he had hoped never to use. The phone rang twice before a gruff voice answered.
"Hello?" the voice on the other end said, cautiously.
"It's Vance," he barked. "I need a favor."
There was a pause. "You realize the heat you're under right now? This isn't the best time for...favors."
"I don't care," Vance snapped. "Ethan Moore's application for clinical trials just got approved. I want it stopped. I don't care how you do it, but make sure his application is denied."
The voice sighed, a mix of resignation and annoyance. "That's going to be tricky. Ethan's got a lot of support. His results are solid."
"Tricky or not, I'm paying you a lot of money to get things done. Make it happen," Vance growled.
"Alright, I'll see what I can do," the voice replied before the line went dead.
---
Back at the lab, the atmosphere was electric with excitement. Ethan and his team were finalizing the preparations for the second phase of the clinical trials. They had spent countless hours refining their methods and ensuring everything was in place for the next step.
Anya was in the middle of a call with one of the regulatory agencies, finalizing details, when her face suddenly fell. She hung up the phone, her expression troubled.
"Ethan, we have a problem," she said, her voice tight with concern.
Ethan walked over, his brow furrowed. "What is it?"
"The agency just informed me that our application for the second phase of trials has been denied. They cited 'inconsistencies in the data' and 'concerns about the safety protocols.'"
Ethan felt his stomach drop. "That's impossible. Our data is flawless, and our safety protocols are top-notch. This doesn't make any sense."
Kai, who had been listening in, shook his head. "This has Vance written all over it. He must have pulled some strings to get our application denied."
Max clenched his fists, his face darkening. "We should have seen this coming. He's desperate and will do anything to stop us."
Joe put a reassuring hand on Ethan's shoulder. "We're not going to let this stop us. We'll appeal the decision, present our data again, and fight this with everything we've got."
Ethan nodded, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "You're right. We won't back down. Anya, start preparing the appeal. Kai, I need you to compile all our data into an irrefutable report. Max, keep our security tight. We can't afford any more setbacks."
Anya nodded, her determination renewed. "I'm on it, Ethan. We won't let Vance win."
Kai immediately began working on the data, his fingers flying over the keyboard. "I'll make sure our report is bulletproof. They won't have any reason to deny us again."
Max moved to the security console, issuing orders to his team. "We're doubling our security. No one gets in or out without clearance."
As the team sprang into action, Ethan took a moment to collect his thoughts. They had come so far, and he wasn't about to let Vance's underhanded tactics derail their progress. He looked around at his team, each member focused and resolute, and felt a surge of pride and determination.
"We're going to fight this," Ethan said, his voice strong. "And we're going to win. For my father, for everyone suffering from Morterra, and for all of us who have worked so hard to make this a reality."
The team nodded in agreement, their spirits lifted by Ethan's words. They were in this together, and together, they would overcome any obstacle in their path. The battle was far from over, but they were ready for whatever came next.