- "Sorry, Sartorius, but this is the way it has to be."
- ―Rupert Thorne to Alex Sartorius[src]
The Assassination of the Sartorius Family was a sadistic attack by Rupert Thorne and his gang to murder Parvin Sartorius and her son as revenge against Alex Sartorius for betraying their deal.
Background[]
Alex Sartorius argues with Parvin about his deal with Rupert Thorne
- "I can't continue my research without their funding. I love you. You know that?"
"That is irrelevant to what are we talking about."
"They're not good people. But a nuclear fusion treatment that destroys cancer forever without harming the patient? That's worth dealing with anyone! With a treatment like that, my father might still be alive... Your mother."
"Maybe... there is some other way." - ―Parvin Sartorius and Alex Sartorius[src]
As a Gotham City nuclear scientist, Doctor Alex Sartorius set out to find a cure for cancer through radioactive experiments. However, Sartorius remained desperate for funding, forcing him to contact gangster Rupert Thorne, who agreed to help him in exchange for sending the results to the nation of Bialya. When Sartorius's wife, Parvin, learned of his deal with Thorne, the couple argued over the danger Thorne posed, with Parvin questioning Sartorius if there was no other method. In an attempt to protect his family, Sartorius delivered false results in an attempt to deceive Thorne.[1]
Assassination[]
Alex Sartorius cries for the death of Parvin and his son
- "Oh, poor baby."
- ―Henchman to Alex Sartorius[src]
After Bialya's scientists discovered the false results, it was reported to Rupert Thorne, whose life was put at risk by his superiors. In retaliation for Alex Sartorius, Thorne and his gang invaded his home, where his henchmen murdered Parvin and her son. When Sartorius returned home, the scientist discovered the corpses of his family and broke down in tears as Thorne and his gang mocked him for breaking their agreement. Sartorius grieved for the deaths of his wife and son before the henchmen drenched his hands with blood and made him touch a knife to frame him, receiving Thorne's order to kidnap him.[1]
Aftermath[]
Rupert Thorne reprimands Alex Sartorius for his deception
- "My wife... She came from a country with an oppressive regime. She is... was sensitive about giving nuclear secrets to another-"
"Oh, what a prince. Right guys? Throwing his dead wife under the bus."
"No, no... I just... I didn't think anyone would notice." - ―Alex Sartorius and Rupert Thorne[src]
While being taken in a van by Rupert Thorne's gang, Alex Sartorius stood in a corner, continuing to mourn over the murder of Parvin and his son. Taking advantage of Thorne and his gang's distraction, Sartorius managed to open the van door, falling to the road with his arm in pain before getting up and trying to escape from his kidnappers. However, Thorne's henchmen caught him and took him back to the van, transporting him to Sartorius Labs, where Sartorius questioned Thorne's motives and was informed that the murder was his punishment for failing to follow through on their deal.
Alex Sartorius begins his revenge against Rupert Thorne
When the henchmen found the true results of the experiments, Sartorius confessed that Parvin had pushed him to deceive them because she was born under a fascist regime in her country. Upon acquiring all the information, Thorne ordered Sartorius to be placed inside his nuclear chamber, claiming that it would be the final instrument to frame Sartorius, who begged for his release, though the henchmen activated the chamber, causing a massive explosion that presumably killed Sartorius. While the criminals were victorious, Sartorius survived the explosion, transformed into a radioactive skeletal metahuman. Empowered, Sartorius set about seeking revenge for his family, sadistically slaughtering Thorne along with his family and gang, taking Thorne's position as a gangster and adopting the name "Doctor Phosphorus."[1]