I noticed Astra entering through the door of the reserved restaurant which we both had arranged for that meeting. He was alone, his bodyguards had probably stayed outside. He soon spotted me and walked towards my table, which was close to the wall and perfectly isolated from any potential curious. Before proceeding, I believe that a better situation of the moment is needed, for a better understanding. This is basically the story of how I got involved with the famous organization named Morningwood Elite. More than that, however, I would like to make a short presentation of who I am and how I got here.

My name is Albert Hofmann and I was born in the small commune of Baden, in Switzerland. I do not think we should delve into my childhood and other trivial details, so let me just say that I had an easy life, I've always been an exemplary citizen and a very featured student. So much so that I graduated with honors in Chemistry, at the University of Zurich. I would later move to the United States of America to work in a big pharmaceutical laboratory, but no matter where, after my graduation I have always dedicated myself and my studies into improving the quality of life of the human being. I was a dazzled young man with a chemistry degree and many dreams in my mind, trying to make the world a a less painful place to live.

Working in the United States, I was seeing a lot of progress but I did not feel rewarded. Leaving any modesty aside, I'm good at what I do and I wasn't being paid accordingly. I devoted myself to studying animal, plants and fungus and we had made much progress studying the properties of mushrooms as well. I wrote several articles and supervised several scientific studies. I felt like I was making a difference in the world and that one day we would reap the results from that, of course, but in a monetary way - judge me, if you want - that was just not happening. Do not get me wrong, I'm not greedy, never was, and I've always been in love with my profession, so I moved on and kept all my hard work - and my relatively small payment.

One day, while studying the properties of the "ergot" - a fungus -, and looking for a respiratory and circulatory stimulant...oh, wait. Sometimes I get carried away. Let me cut it and simplify it before leading you to boredom. One day, studying fungus and lysergic acid derivatives, I have synthesized the lysergic acid diethhylamide - which would later be affectionately known as LSD - a powerful psychedelic acid which I was proudly the first man on the universe to use. After discovering it, I immediately pressed for it to be heavily, heavily studied. The possibilities were enormous and I had already begun to test my pretty new discovery in psychological treatments on my own risk, such were my expectations. For me, it was a treasure and a dream come true. Something that could fuel my dream of helping people. For the U.S. Government and AACP, not so much. The government, in all its wisdom, declared my acid as being "harmful" and "not important enough to receive research funding", as, according to them and their fake studies, it was "just an addictive substance without any potential medicinal use".

Whatever the reasons for my boycott - politics, maybe? - they do not matter anymore. Here I am now, watching this famous criminal figure of Detroit walking in my direction. When he - better known as Astra - gets close enough, I get up. My very well lined suit and my well cut hair 

show the seriousness of that meeting. I shake the man's hand and then I sit down, inviting him to do the same with a simple gesture.

"It's a real pleasure to meet you, Mr. Astra. I hope you had no trouble finding the restaurant. I have chosen this one in particular because it's a perfect place to discuss business, and, of course, the exceptional steaks. Would you like to eat something first? Or maybe having a bourbon?"

I was pouring myself out with the utmost cordiality since I was totally out of my "normal" working environment. I stared at Astra firmly, waiting for his answer.

The moment Astra walked in he could tell the man sitting across from him at the table was something of a genius.  Being an avid fan of science himself he had heard the name AlbertHoffman mentioned in a few articles from scholarly papers and magazines he had read.  The rare study of how certain chemicals, plants, and fungi effect the human mind.  Given the effect that The Great War had on many men that had seen combat, including himself, he knew that this research was important for all of mankind.  Being able to subvert and calm the demons that so many fighting men carried home with them would be a godsend at this point.  Dr. Hoffman was one of those rare breeds of scientist that saw the value in these mind altering medications.  Astra himself had no scientific background.  Shit, he had barely been out of elementary school when he was forced to go to work to support his family, and then he found himself in France at the young age 16.  Still, Astra considered himself intelligent and forward thinking.  He could see the value of Dr. Hoffman's work.  Astra left his men outside and walked over to sit with Dr. Hoffman.

"You know what, I'm hungry.  Why don't we get some steaks and bourbon while we talk about your work.  I'm one of those people that needs a full stomach for my mind to work at full capacity."

Astra kindly nodded at the waiter who glided over and took their orders.  Astra produced a $20 dollar bill and handed it to the waiter, signaling that the drinks should just keep coming.

"You say that this new chemical you've discovered has some real potential but hasn't found much support within the government.  Fucking bureaucrats constantly worrying about keeping the status quo.   It's the same reason we are fighting the same wars that have been fought a thousand times over.   Anyway, this isn't about politics.  I am not a brilliant man such as yourself so would you mind explaining a little bit about this new substance to me."

I watched the waiter bring us two glasses of bourbon, while Astra was talking to me. The young man placed one glass in front of Astra, then one in front of me. I hastened to drink a small sip of the drink, that could definitely help me in that meeting. The fact was that I was a lot nervous. I had never worked with people like Astra before. I heard him call me brilliant, and I'm not going to lie, it tickled my ego and helped me to go on as well.

"In fact, my not-so-recent discovery was not just well accepted within the government, it practically put me on a sort of blacklist. When I first started studying it, I saw a substance which could effectively help patients with a history of psychological problems. I had even started to do some tests on volunteers, on my own, and the results were very...satisfactory, let's put it that way."

I paused briefly to took another sip of the whiskey, before continuing.

"LSD. That's the substance original name. Lysergic Acid Diethhylamide. We are talking about a powerful psychotropic substance, an acid with a high level of hallucination effects, capable of changing your perception of the world around you and mess up with your senses. A drug that acts in the human being's psyche and nervous system. A very interesting trip, if you ask me. I've tried it a few times, to be honest."

I was feeling more comfortable at this point of the conversation, and maybe a bit too much excited. Talking about my "problem child" always got me that way. I studied the man in front of me for a few seconds trying to perceive any reaction on him, any sign of disapproval or excitement.

"Now, Mr. Astra, I came to you, and you only, because, according to what I have heard, you are a visionary and open minded businessman..."

I interrupted myself, as I saw the waiter coming with our orders.

The waiter approached the two men with two plates of sizzing, hot steaks with a bake potato on the side for each.  He set the down quickly and scurried away quickly, seeing the intense faces and sensing a serious discussion between Astra and Albert. 

As Astra picked up his knife and fork he contemplated what the brilliant man before him had said.  If it were all true then what Albert had created could possibly change the world... and make them a lot of money.  The fact that the U.S Government had decided to outlaw this substance outright left those opportunistic criminals a chance to edge into the market and make some real cash.  Astra himself wasn't one for experimenting with drugs but he could see the value in them, both pertaining to health and his bottom line.  

"If what you say is true here Dr. Hoffman then we have a real opportunity before us.  Really it sounds almost too good to be true that a chemical like this could even exist.  But, I'm sure no one predicted the automobile before that was invented.  I believe you to be an honest man, Albert.  It is very clear to me that you've done the research.  It's clear to me that you believe in your creation.  I cannot help with the fact that the government has shunned your work.  Promising I could change that would be punching way above my weight."

"Even though the government might not see its value doesn't mean I don't.  Just because they don't believe in your work doesn't mean it just has to disappear.  How involved is the process to make this substance?  Just given the name it doesn't sound like a simple task.  What kind of facilities and overhead are we looking at if we were looking to make it ourselves?"

Astra put down his knife and fork and took a large gulp of his bourbon.  He hoped Albert was honest in what he said.  The amount of money that could be made from this new endeavor could be immense.  He could see the brilliant wheels in Albert's head turning as he had spoke, the chemist all the while planning his next sentence.

There was no reason to wait to eat, so I immediately began to savor my meal while listening to Astra speak. I was hungry and that was delicious, to say the least. I was also feeling more comfortable now. When he asked me a question, I finished chewing and drank another sip of the bourbon.

"It's a long process, Mr. Astra. Not a simple task at all."

I bent down and picked up my handbag which rested on the floor next to my feet. I opened it and took out a black folder, full of papers, putting it on the table.

"Here is the whole project. I wrote down almost everything. Feel free to take it and analyze it more carefully. Basically this file contains all the physical structure I would need. Each equipment, each raw material. There is also a sketch of a budget that I have achieved so that we have an idea on the investment needed."

I took another sip of the bourbon. 

"Now, Mr. Astra, I've saved some money in the last few years. As a partner, which is my intention in this, I'll be able to help significantly in our initial capital. What I really need from you, Mr. Astra, and this is me being totally frank with you, are your connections, your transportation routes. Your influence and protection. What I am planning to do is completely new to me. You see, I have never even received a traffic ticket."

I emptied my glass for good. I had just put my cards on the table. Astra should understand what he was getting into, just like myself. I was sitting in front of a big crime figure making a rather bold proposal. Suddenly, I felt the nervousness creep through my body again, but I remained impassive. I could definitely use another glass of bourbon.

"You came more prepared than I thought." Astra laughed.

He was glad to see Albert becoming more comfortable.  Astra didn't want the man to feel like he was being pressured or extorted.  If he had wanted to do that he could have sent someone to Albert's house, but Astra wanted a partner.  He took his time, munching on his food slowly as he listened to Albert speak. 

He took the notebook that Albert produced and had handed him and slowly flipped though the hand drawn pages.  The leather bound journal was heavy, at least 100 pages, all of them filled to pages end with notes.  Albert really was a genius if he understood all of this.  Astra eyed some of the equipment and admittedly hadn't heard of most of the pieces needed.  He knew his chemicals well enough but not what it took to synthesize anything.  The "cooking" process would entirely have to be up to the chemist, Astra would just get in the way.

Astra set the journal down on the table as Albert finished with his plan.  

"When I first got here and we started speaking I was worried that you were going to ask me to help you make this stuff.  I have to admit most of this information in your large black book is way over my head and understanding.  I am happy to hear that you have that end of it totally covered."

Astra creased his napkin and wiped his mouth before speaking again, choosing his words thoughtfully.

"I'll tell you what Doctor.  Those are things I can help with.  Being located here in Detroit is something of blessing in that respect.  Through the Great Lakes we have access to all of the east coast including New York, Philadelphia, Boston, you get the picture.  A lot of my alcohol is sent that way.  We also have the Mississippi River not too far away across the boarder in western Illinois.  That is my gateway to the south.  From there you can hit everything between St. Louis and New Orleans and beyond to Texas and Florida.  I already have men assigned as protection for my smuggling operations for other nefarious goods.  This would not be a stretch for my men to handle.  They are good at what they do and most importantly they are loyal."

"You're name will never be mentioned to anyone outside of those you work with directly.  If your plan is to make the chemical here in Detroit you have nothing to worry about.  Just use my name if the police ever even come near you and they should fuck right off.  If you are interested in help synthesizing I routinely make very large donations to a number of universities.  I value education even if I didn't complete my own.  Many brilliant students are a part of the universities I associate with.  That is only if you are interested.  I have no idea what the job entails.  If you think you can make this stuff by yourself then I trust you to do just that."

It wasn't often that Astra discussed the in's and outs of his business operations with someone he had just met.  But, he felt that Albert was being genuine in his efforts.  Astra could tell he loved his creation.  He could tell that the man was serious about his project.  Astra sat back in his chair and waived politely to the waiter for another drink.

I nodded, relieved. If on one hand I had things over control on my end, Astra definitely had it too on his. The waiter approached quickly with full glasses.

"Mr Astra," - I said, taking my glass - "I'd like to propose a toast. It seems to me that we have here the birth of a prosperous and beneficial partnership. May we succeed."

I raised my glass, expecting him to do the same, as he did. I nodded again.

"We'll be able to work out all the details later. I'm glad we can come to an agreement and I promise not to disappoint you. Now, I think it would be a sin not to finish this delicious meal."

I went back to eating my steak and talk about trivial things with Astra. Suddenly, we looked like two old friends having a time together rather than a mobster and a scientist making plans for a large network of drug production and distribution. That said a lot about us, I guess. About me, at least.