Gene. Sys. by Aaron Denius (best ereader for comics txt) 📕

“I’m just walking to the giant structure in the center of the city.” He puts his arm around my shoulder, and I smile. For a moment, I feel we are brothers.

As we walk deeper into the city, the density of people increases. 80 was right; no one is paying attention to us. My nerves calm, and my senses kick into high gear. The first thing to hit me is the smell. It is one of the most pungent odors I have ever experienced. There is a hint of sweat and smoke, but the main culprit seems to be rotting flesh, much like that from the dead body whose clothes I am wearing. My skin feels clammy, and I realize that it is at least fifteen degrees hotter here than at the compound.

The only thing pleasant in this repulsive city is the sound of a steady beat. “What do you think that is?”

“I don’t know.” 80 turns down a street and heads toward the sound. “Let’s find out.”

I would be turning away from the pyramid, which is what I really want to see, but I am just as curious to explore the sound. It doesn’t take us long to get to the source, as we are suddenly greeted by a wall of people all looking toward the center. “I think it’s a party.”

80 looks at me with dead eyes. “I don’t know what that is.”

I’m surprised by what he just said. Then I remember that there are many things I’m sure he hasn’t experienced. “It’s a gathering for a celebration.”

“Okay,” he responds, unsure. “What about the sound? And the smell?”

“The sound is music. Nothing I have heard before.” I listen closer. It’s very drum-heavy and rhythmic. Suddenly a second smell hits me. It’s a type of burning, but this one is making my mouth water. “I don’t know what that smell is.”

We try to look around the crowd, but my gaze is pulled away when I hear a buzzing by my head. I look and spot one of the dragonfly cameras. They are much smaller in person, and had I not seen one before, I wouldn’t be any wiser to what it is. I swat at it, but it doesn’t move.

“They found us,” I say.

80 turns and looks around. “What do you mean?”

I point to the dragonfly. “That’s a camera.”

Before I know it, the staff has been pulled from my grasp, and 80 smashes the dragonfly camera. “Run. Go!”

We take off toward the pyramid. If I am going to get caught, I want to see the pyramid before they reach me. As we run, a few more dragonflies give chase. We do our best to avoid being spotted, but there are too many, so we decide to just run straight for the pyramid.

Everything slows down as the majestic structure that I have been coveting reveals itself to me. I’ve seen many pictures, but none of them prepared me for the way I would feel. There is noticeable wear on the pyramid, and one of the corners has been blown off, but I still can’t help but feel humbled. Humans built this stunning work of art over fifty centuries ago, and no one in this city has an inkling of respect for it. My purpose just became a little clearer. I wasn’t created to only save the human race; I was made to also preserve its history.

“It’s amazing,” 80 says, and he snaps me out of my head.

“It truly is. Thank you for bringing me out here, but we need to get back.” I turn to head back to the compound.

80 doesn’t move. “What do you think they’ll do to me?”

“What do you mean?” I look at him.

“I brought you out here. The scientists are not going to be very happy about that.” He looks up at me, and I see a fear of death in his eyes for the first time.

“I won’t let them do anything to you. You are my friend, and you saved my life. I will never forget that.” I walk on, and he jogs up next to me. We weave our way through the city and past the party.

“Hang on a second.” 80 runs off toward the party, leaving me alone. I stand off to the side to try to avoid any attention.

Just as 80 turns the corner, an older man with spotted facial hair steps in front of me. “Where did you get those shoes?”

I look down and see that the brightly colored shoes are in complete contrast to the rest of the clothes I’m wearing. “I found them.”

The old man studies me. “Where?”

My heart races because I know whatever answer I give him will be the wrong answer. “I don’t remember.”

“You’re lying.” The old man pins my shoulders against the wall and looks back. “Petros!”

A giant man walks out of the shadows, his face covered in scars. “What?”

“I think he’s from inside the walls.” The old man grabs the staff out of my hand and tosses it aside.

Petros steps right up to me, his face close enough that I can smell his breath. “He’s too young to be one of the scientists. He must be one of the clones.”

“You think he’s one of the guards or one of the Genesys?” The old man prods at me.

“I don’t care.” Petros turns to walk away. “Kill him.”

The old man pulls a gun from his pants and aims it at my head. My eyes go wide, and my instincts take over. I kick off the wall, knocking the old man back. His gun goes off but misses me by a few feet. I grab the arm with the weapon, sweep my leg over his head and take him down to the ground. His arm breaks over my leg with one quick motion, and I snatch the gun from his hand. The old man screams in pain, drawing Petros’s attention, as well as that of a few others.

They all pull their guns on me, so I duck behind a