Gene. Sys. (3 page)

The Soviets, America and Germany all poured
money into scientific research. This would lead Germany into attempting to
reclaim their empire and their quest for power ignited World War II. In 1939
Europe was once again at war and in 1941 Japan brought America into the war.
Though the war itself was mostly over control of certain land, World War II
proved significant because it introduced the world to nuclear technology and
nuclear weapons. The strong-arm gesture by America to drop two nuclear bombs on
Japan would actually raise tensions between them and the Soviet Empire. Both
would try hard to win the Space Race and the Nuclear Race.

The Space Race did eventually put a man on the
moon and would lead to the development of the Internet. This would be the final
step to complete globalization because information could be accessed by anyone
at any time. Secrets, whether national or personal, would become obsolete.

The Nuclear Race would have different
consequences. Though the Soviet Empire would fall apart due to internal
conflict, the amount of nuclear weapons developed by them and the United States
would exceed 70,000 by 1990. Relations between nations from that point on would
always carry the threat of a nuclear attack. By 2040, 18 nations had nuclear
weapons.

Around that time robotics had become commonplace
and were used in everything from household chores to space travel. Earth
entered into one of its most peaceful eras, as the world powers would unite on
the joint goal of putting a colony on Mars. Together the Americans, Chinese,
Russians and the European Federation formed the NCM and built a base with
launching platform on the moon. Over the following decades they went from
putting a man on the moon to developing the first self-sustaining and renewable
colony on Mars.

Though the first world countries had all
switched to renewable energy, the rest of the world still depended heavily on
fossil fuels. With reserves already low, the colonization of Mars drained what
was left of the fuels and left the rest of the world in a perennial dark age.
Conflicts arose between the third world countries, as they would fight to
attain each other’s resources. Brazil invaded Venezuela and took control of
their oil, becoming a superpower in South America; battles raged on in Africa,
as famine became its biggest killer; the worst of the conflicts would happen
between Pakistan and India, when Pakistan invaded India and India retaliated
with nuclear force. This marked the beginning of World War III. Afghanistan and
Iran allied with Pakistan and launched their nuclear missiles at India.

This forced the hand of the NCM countries. They
sent troops into the region to stop the conflict and disarm all active nuclear
weapons. Overall, the blasts and the ensuing fallout killed nearly 250 million
people. When the conflict was resolved, the NCM and other participating
countries with nuclear weapons would sign the Fallout Treaty, agreeing to
disarm all active weapons. Any country that did not participate in the treaty
would be invaded and forced to disarm its weapons. The two lone holdouts, North
Korea and Iran, showed little resistance to the NCM armies that forced their
way into the countries. The disarming of the last nuclear missile would mark
the end of the World War III.

With Earth in relative peace, the NCM countries
would turn their attention back to the advancement of science and technology.
They worked to develop chemicals that would offset the effects of the nuclear
fallout and allow the areas to be habitable again. They developed cheaper
versions of renewable energy that would allow the poorer countries to begin to
flourish. Lastly they worked to make Africa a self-sustaining ecosystem by
creating a web of pipes that would bring water from this compound on the Nile
to the rest of the continent. With access to fresh water, farms could be more
easily cultivated, causing the risk of famine and disease to decrease.

Humanity was once again flourishing but in their
research they found that global temperatures had been steadily dropping. By the
beginning of the
22
^nd
 
century
Earth had entered its next
ice age. The average temperature had dropped nearly 20 degrees Fahrenheit and
would affect the cultivation of food. Africa, however, would flourish, as the
climate change brought more rain. Other parts of the world would not fare as
well. Famine and disease ravaged South America, Australia and Southeast Asia.

As the ice shelf pushed its way south, the
northern countries became uninhabitable. Canadians were welcomed into America.
Europeans made their way towards the countries surrounding the Mediterranean.
The Russians attempted to move down into China but were met with a heavy
blockade, as the population was already too big and too hard to feed. Left with
no other option, the Russians attempted to force their way in, ending a long
era of peace between the two countries. The other countries of the world did
not concern themselves with the Russian/Chinese War because they all had to
deal with their own regional conflicts. Since the food supply could not keep up
with the demand of the people, countries closed down their trade routes,
putting countries with poor access to resources at risk of famine and disease.
Anarchy reigned supreme.

Earth had entered into World War IV. Countries
fought other countries, civil wars raged in half the world, and neighbors would
fight each other for access to resources. Amidst the chaos, those with money
immigrated to Africa where the climate was ideal, the resources were plenty and
the population was minimal. Africa became a cesspool of the world’s privileged,
including politicians and scientists. Together they decided that, in order to
save the human race from collapse, they needed to somehow end the ice age.

The decision was made to collect as many
scientists as possible and assemble them at the compound by the Nile River.
There, they were tasked with finding a way to reverse the ice age. One of the
scientists, a young geneticist by the name of Rene Anfang was put in charge of
creating clones to use as security for the compound. When progress was stalled
on a way to end the ice age, Dr. Anfang and a few other scientists began a
revolution to change the objective of the compound. The revolution was
successful and the scientists embarked on their new goal.
The
reset that we are in the midst of today.

2

The history lesson was six hours long and was a
lot to process. It left me with so many questions but I wanted nothing more
than to nap. Ev and I went back to our separate rooms and rested. I must have
really needed it because I fell right to sleep and, though I woke up four hours
later, it only felt like I was asleep for a few minutes.

I sat up from my bed and saw that it was just past
ten o’clock. Most everyone would be asleep by now. If there was any night that
I needed to go up on the roof, tonight was it. I grabbed a couple of protein
pouches and my blanket. Last night was pretty cold, so I’m sure tonight won’t
be any different.

I head out of my room and nearly make it to the
library before I realize that I could have Ev join me. I turn back and head
down the empty hallways. I’m still not used to seeing them barren, they feel
haunting without the drones. I turn down her hallway and it occurs to me that I
don’t know which door is hers. I take a wild guess and choose the third of the
six doors.
    

“Ev?” I knock. I wait a second before I move to
the next door and try the same thing. This time I knock a little louder. I’m
afraid that if it’s not her room I’ll be disturbing the actual tenant.

I walk to the next door and am about to knock
when I hear my name being called from behind me. I turn to see Ev poking her
head out from the first door. Why didn’t I try that one first? I walk towards
her. “Hey.”
   

“What are you doing?” she asks.

I point to the other doors. “Did I…”

“They are all empty,” she responds. “No one has
ever been in any of them. They keep them locked.”

“Weird. It’s the same in my hallway.” I lean
against her doorframe. “I just thought that was where the drones stayed.”

She leans against the other side of the
doorframe. “The who?”

“The drones. Those clones that were always
guarding the hallways,” I say.

“I didn’t realize that’s what they were called.”
She smiles. “What are you doing here anyway?”

This time I smile. “I want to show you
something.”

“Are we allowed to leave our rooms?” She takes a
step back into her room a bit skeptical.

“They never told us we couldn’t. Come on. You’ll
enjoy it.” I reach my hand out to her. This gesture must have made her feel
more comfortable because she takes my hand and lets me lead her back down the
hallways. After a few turns I realize that we are still holding hands and my heartbeat
increases. I can feel myself getting sweaty. I let go and offer her one of my
protein pouches to not let on that I got nervous again.

We get to the library and walk in. “I’ve been to
the library before, Atom.”

“Just come with me.” I’m frustrated by her
hesitation. With how reckless it seemed like she was in talking to dad, she is
way too cautious. Hopefully once she sees what I have to show her she will
appreciate it. She follows me to the back of the library where the ladder is. I
climb to the top and push myself to the roof. I look back down and see her
standing on the ground looking around. “Climb up. No one is coming.”

I lay the blanket down on the ground and sit.
After a few moments she sits next to me. “We shouldn’t be up here. We could get
into a lot of trouble if anyone found out.”

“No one is going to find out. I’ve been coming
up here for a while,” I respond, a bit annoyed. “Just relax and take in the
view.”

I can tell she is trying since she takes a deep
breath and leans back on her arms. “What are we looking at?”

The sky is just as clear as it was last night. I
point to the top of the pyramid on the other side of the wall. “You see that
over there? That’s the top of the Great Pyramid of Giza. It’s over 5000 years
old.”

“Wow.” She is genuinely impressed. “What is it?
Who built it?”

Her questions make me smile. I’m excited to
share what I’ve learned. “There is actually more than one. That one is just the
tallest. The Egyptians built them as a way to honor their dead kings, or
pharaohs. So they are pretty much giant tombs.”

“That’s amazing. How do you know all of that?”
She leans forward to get a closer look.

I lean with her. “I just got books from the
library and read all I could. I want to sneak past the wall and see it up
close. Want to come with me?”

She turns to me. “Atom, you know we are not
allowed to leave the compound. Rene has told me many times, as I’m sure he has
told you. It’s very dangerous out there.”

“Has he ever told you what danger is on the
other side of the walls?” I retort. Maybe a little bit too strong since she
scoots back.

“Does it matter what it is? Why else would they
have all those drones patrolling the walls? They are obviously there to keep
something out,” she scolds me.

“Or to keep us in,” I say.

She stands. “I’m getting tired. I think I’m
going to go back to my room.”

 
“Sleep well,” is all I can think to say.
This isn’t how I pictured things happening up here. I’m not sure what I had in
mind. I just knew that I wanted it to be relaxing.

“You too,” she says with a crack in her voice. I
don’t look at her as she heads down the
ladder,
instead
I lay back and cover myself with the blanket. I stare at the moon thinking
about the base that is up there and the fact that no one has been up there in over
100 years. I wonder what it’s like up there or on the colony on Mars. I fall
asleep pretty easily.

That night I dream that I am being chased by
thousands of drones. They chase me through the hallways and out into the
grounds of the compound. There are no walls surrounding the compound so I can
see the pyramid ahead of me. I run toward the pyramid but I see Ev standing off
to the side of the pyramid. She is calling me towards her but I choose to run
towards the pyramid to escape the drones pursuing me. I run into the opening of
the pyramid and the drones stop just outside and gather around the entire
pyramid.

I wake up when the warmth of the morning sun
hits my face. I might have slept through the night but I know I will be sore
today because the concrete roof offers no comfort. I eat one of my protein
pouches and gather the blanket. I’m hoping I can get a little more time in my
bed before training this morning.

I crawl into my bed and fall right to sleep. I’m
not sure how long I was out before I get woken up, but it doesn’t matter, my
back is stiff. The pounding on the door matches the pounding in my head. I
slowly stand to ensure I keep my balance and I walk to the door.

The door seems a bit heavier this morning and
when I open it I’m surprised to see my dad and Ev instead of Grant. Ev seems to
be avoiding any eye contact. She seems upset and I want to do nothing more than
apologize but dad’s presence makes it difficult. It’s a private matter that
doesn’t concern him.

“Oh good, you’re dressed,” Dad says as he pulls
me out into the hallway. I look down and realize I never changed out of my jump
suit from yesterday.

Before I know it we are walking down the
hallways. “Where is Grant?”

“You will both train later. Right now you are
coming with me because I think it’s about time I show you something.” His pace
picks up a little. He seems both excited and serious. He takes us through the
last hallway to a door that has always been off limits. I have only seen
scientists come through those doors. He puts his hand up to a screen by the
door and leans into the screen. “Rene Anfang.” A light scans his hand and the
door unlocks. He holds it open for Ev and I to walk through.

The halls in this part of the complex are red
instead of the blue I am used to. I know that this is the area where the
scientists sleep but that’s about it.

Ev speaks up. “Where are we?

“This is the research and development wing.” Dad
keeps walking and we follow.

“What happens here?” I look around.

“This is where us scientists work and sleep. In
that order.” He chuckles to himself; I don’t get it.

He leads us down a couple more hallways to an
elevator. We get in and he puts his hand on another screen. “Rene Anfang.” I
can feel it taking us down. After a few moments, it stops and the doors open.
What I see before me is so overwhelming that I can barely take it all in. There
is a giant room filled with machinery and monitors. It seems like around thirty
scientists are working on the various equipment. In the center there are twelve
giant tubes. Dad turns to Ev and I. “Welcome to the Center for Genetic and
Obstetric Design, or the Center for G.O.D. This, Atom and Ev, was where you
were created.”

She and I look at each other, not sure what to
make of this information. Dad takes us down a set of metallic stairs to the
ground floor. I get a better look at the twelve tubes and can’t move. Ev takes
my hand and grips it tight. If she was at all angry with me from last night,
the shock of what we see before us has changed her mind.

The first two tubes are empty but the remaining
ten have bodies floating in green liquid, five males and five females. It has
never been a secret that Ev and I were created this way but we thought we were
the only ones. I feel betrayed and I just want to run out of there but I can’t
look away. Each one of them has different skin tones and different hair color.

Dad comes up behind us and puts his hands on our
shoulders. “These, my dear Atom and Ev, are the other Genetic Systems. Together
you will all be Earth’s regenesis. I know this doesn’t really make much sense
to you and I know you both have tons of questions but I promise you it will all
start making sense soon enough. The answers to your questions will make
themselves known but if I try to explain it all to you now it will be too much
for you to process.”

This catches my attention since Ev and I are
constantly sitting through hours of classes and being fed books of information
that we have to retain in one pass. He’s not wrong though. I’m seeing what is
directly before me and I have no idea what to make of it. What is the purpose
of this? Does it rewrite the purpose I thought I had? I feel like I need to say
something. “Why did you bring us down here?”

I don’t think he was expecting that question
because he takes a moment to answer. “These ten will be released tomorrow and
when they are ready we are going to need you two to teach them. You both are a
couple of months ahead of them and we need you to catch them up to speed,
especially in the training room. They will be looking for you two to lead
them.”

“Is this why there were the other locked rooms
in our hallways?” Ev speaks up. I hadn’t thought about that but it makes sense
now. They have known that they were going to make twelve of us for a while.

My entire perception of who I was and where I
was has been turned on its head. The man I called my dad has become a stranger
to me. Right now the only person I feel I can trust is standing by my side,
holding my hand.

Rene guides us down the path between the tubes.
It just doesn’t seem right to call him dad anymore, especially since I now know
where I was created.

 
“Yes, Ev. They will be occupying those
rooms.” He turns to smile at us but his expression quickly turns south as
alarms blare all around us. I look around to see red lights flashing throughout
the room and all the scientists running amok.

“What’s happening?” I ask. This has never
happened before, at least not that I know of. It seems like everyone else has
gone through this before because they are all running with purpose. Some are
hitting shut off valves; others are locking down equipment. Ev grips my hand
tighter; I don’t object.

Rene ignores us and turns towards the
scientists. “Hawk! Watch over these two!”

Stay here!” He yells at Ev and I. As soon as he
says it, he’s gone. He bolts up the stairs and into the elevator.

“Come with me, you two.” We both startle at the
voice and turn. Before us is a man about a foot shorter and fifty pounds
lighter than me. I feel I would be able to lift him up with one hand. Hardly
the type of guy you would expect with the name Hawk. A pair of glasses that are
nearly an inch thick covers his face.

He runs off but I don’t move until I feel Ev
tugging on me. I stumble as I catch up and Hawk leads us into a back room
adjacent to the monitors. He shuts the door behind us.

“Help me with this, Atom.” Hawk runs to the
other side of a filing cabinet and starts to push. It doesn’t move until I run
beside him to help. We move it directly in front of the door.

“What the hell is going on?” Ev shouts. She has
found a place against the opposite wall. It seems like she likes to have her back
to something when she’s scared. Next to her is a desk with a few old monitors.

Hawk sits at the chair at the desk and turns on
the monitors. “We’re under attack.”

“By who?” I ask as I walk up behind him. Ev
stands next to me. This time I reach for her hand, it seems like the
appropriate thing to do.