“It seems like a lot to put your body through just to play a sport,” frowned Tony. “In fairness, I wasn’t really a sport guy. I mean, I was a runner and loved running but that’s all.”
“That’s not all, Tony,” said Rory. “Running is critical to good health and overall performance. Athletes in track and field events benefit from weightlifting by improving force production, speed, and power. Sprinters, jumpers, and throwers use squats and deadlifts to increase the explosive leg strength necessary for quick starts and maximal jumps or throws.
“The bench press supports upper-body power, especially for throwers. Proper weightlifting also enhances overall muscular balance, reducing overuse injuries and supporting efficient movement patterns.”
“You’re going to run into other athletes there as well. Baseball players rely on rotational power, quick reflexes, and overall athleticism. Weightlifting, particularly the deadlift and squat, strengthens the glutes, hamstrings, and back, which is vital for powerful swings, quick sprints, and explosive throws.”
“I think I owe everyone with muscles an apology,” smiled Tony. “Honestly, I never thought it was helpful for anything other than to make you guys big and scary.” The men all laughed and Rory smiled at the young ghost.
“It does make us big and scary. But powerlifting is more than just lifting heavy weights. Its core lifts and training principles are invaluable. When used correctly, which this dude is not doing. He’s using as punishment and abuse. Whatever his goals are, they aren’t to see athletes succeed.”
“Then what is his goal?” asked Tahlako.
“If I had to guess, it’s about having his name associated to a professional athlete or an Olympic athlete. It could mean millions of dollars in deals for him and his likeness. I’m afraid this one is all about money.”
“Okay,” nodded Archie. “Tell us more.”
CHAPTER NINE
The three men spent hours with the experts learning the terminology, focusing on the correct techniques in the gym, and showing their teachers that they could indeed lift weight beyond what seemed natural.
“I’ll be damned,” muttered Tailor. “All these years of them watching us workout, I never once thought they were actually paying attention or could do what we were doing.”
“It’s hard to comprehend that something without mass, can lift mass,” frowned Rory.
“I guess we just think of them as ghosts,” said Luke. “We forget that they’ve been given an extraordinary gift to be with us. Maybe this is what they’re here for. To help us.”
“Maybe,” shrugged Cam, “but either way I want our tech boys in that gym tonight putting cameras and devices everywhere and anywhere.”
“Cam, we can’t put cameras in the locker rooms, you know that,” said Luke.
“We can if we don’t tell anyone. I don’t necessarily want visual of the locker room but I want audio. If we hear something we know is wrong, we’ll activate the cameras.”
“I can agree with that,” said Hex. “We’re talking about lives here.”
“Okay. Send Hiro, Tanner, and AJ in tonight with support. I want to make sure that crazy bastard doesn’t have his own cameras.”
“They should be able to gain entry from Cammy’s Place, the restaurant next door. Those old buildings are all connected by air ducts and catwalks. It shouldn’t be any different there unless he’s modified the structure,” said Eric.
“We would have found something in the city building permits if he had,” said Cam. “Besides, he hasn’t been down here long enough to make that happen. One thing we still don’t know is where and how he’s getting these drugs. Also, what’s making them undetectable in testing?”
“That’s the million-dollar question,” said Suzette walking into the room with Thomas and Riley.
“Gee, to what do we owe the pleasure of the senior brainiacs,” smirked Luke.
“Don’t make me spank you, nephew,” smiled Suzette. “We have examined all of the tissue and blood samples from Julius and I have to tell you, I’ve never seen anything like this before. Whatever they are feeding these kids is causing massive mutations in their cell structure.”
“Isn’t that what steroids do?” asked Cam.
“We’ve come across issues with steroids before,” said Riley, “but this is on an entirely different scale. Anabolic-androgenic steroids, which is what this is, are made in a lab. They are derivatives of the male hormone testosterone but what’s interesting here is that we found traces of female hormones as well.
“The use of testosterone is primarily designed to promote muscle growth and the development of male sexual characteristics.”
“You mean making young men look older, more mature?” asked Hex.
“Yes, that and often making women look very masculine. Their jaws will often begin to square off. They develop abnormal features around their genitalia, even facial or body hair.”
“Damn,” muttered Eric.