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

“I didn’t have a choice!” She gets right back in my face. “You’re not the only one who’s had it rough, Atom. Do you have any idea what kind of pressure I was under because of your recklessness? I’ve had to deal with the Genetic Systems alone.”

“You’ve met them?” My tone calms as my thoughts are pulled to the bodies that once occupied the now-empty tubes.

The elevator doors open, and Ev steps out. “Just leave me alone.” She walks away.

I need to find 80, so I head toward the medical wing. Before I reach the end of the hallway, I hear Rene’s voice.

“Atom,” he calls out.

I turn, but I don’t move. “Where is 80?”

“He’s still alive.” He walks toward me. “Head back to your room and wash up. I’ll be there in a bit and will answer any questions you have.”

I stare at him as he approaches. I’m not really sure if I should trust him. He puts his arm on my shoulder and looks into my eyes.

“I’m glad you’re okay.” I force a smile and walk off to my room. The thought of standing under hot, streaming water sounds like a dream right now.

I reach my room and strip out of the same jumpsuit I’ve worn for the last week. I smell the horrid stench that I must have been carrying around as I lift my shirt over my head. My right arm feels sore as I do this, and I look to see that I have dried blood and the early hints of a scar. Everything catches up with me. I was shot, and I jumped off the roof of a building into a moving aircraft. The bullet must have just grazed me. I was lucky.

My body begins to shake, and I just make it into the shower before I collapse to the ground. Fear has overtaken my body, and I feel weak. I put myself in danger, and regardless of how liberating it felt, I was inches from death. I don’t care what my purpose is; I shouldn’t be so reckless.

I let the water cascade over my curled body as I try to mentally prepare myself for everything I want to ask Rene. 80, the Genetic Systems, his plans for me, the end of the world. He said he would answer anything, and I’m going to hold him to that.

I remain in the shower until I feel the heat leave the water, and it becomes too cold for me to handle. I stumble to my room, throw on a jumpsuit, grab a protein pouch, and fall onto my bed. I lie on my back and close my eyes. The bed feels blissful after spending a week on the hard concrete.

Rene knocks on the door as I feel myself drifting to sleep. I want to tell him to come back later, but I know I might not get another chance to ask him what I want, let alone get answers to those questions.

My body won’t allow me to get up, so I call out from my bed. “Come in.”

He pushes through the door and takes a seat at the edge of my bed. “How are you feeling?”

The grunts I let out as I prop myself into a seated position should be enough, but I oblige him with an answer. “Overwhelmed.”

Rene stares at me, his eyes searching for recognition. “You’ve aged.”

I’m not sure what to say, so I keep quiet.

“I’m sorry, Atom. Please understand that I withheld all this information for your safety. I didn’t do it to be deceitful.” He looks regretful, and a part of me feels for him. I want to apologize back, but as I think about what I would be apologizing for, I realize that I’m really not sorry for it. Everything I did was in search of knowledge of things that were withheld from me.

“Where is 80?” I’m not going to waste any more time. I need to know that he’s safe.

“He got shipped out,” Rene replies.

“What do you mean? What did you do to him?” I try to sit up more, but my muscles betray me.

“He’s fine. Nothing is going to happen to him, at least not by our hands. We just sent him to one of the construction sites to be put to work.” He looks away, perhaps trying to avoid the question I ask next.

“Construction sites? What construction sites?” This time my will overpowers my muscles, and I lean closer to him.

Rene sighs. “We’re building six bunkers that will withstand the Ragnarok. The final battle before the Regenesis. These bunkers are intended to hold you, Ev, and the rest of the Genetic Systems.”

“What about everyone else?” I ask, even though I’m pretty sure I know what the answer is going to be.

“They must fend for themselves.” Rene shifts at the end of my bed. He’s not comfortable with this conversation.

“Why are you ending the world?” I press on.

Rene sits and thinks for a bit before he answers. A few tears roll down his cheeks. I realize that the reason he is uncomfortable talking about this is that he’s in pain. “Understand, Atom, I don’t believe I have a choice in what I’m doing. Humans as a species are on the verge of extinction. If we just sit back and let things play out as they have been, famine, disease, and war will wipe us off the earth. We need to restart.”

“You don’t know what is going to happen,” I exclaim.

He looks at me. “No, I don’t. But I know that as long as the ice age is still here, things will worsen before they get better. By that time, it might be too late. You twelve are our best hope. You are the next step in evolution. We created you that way. You are smarter, healthier, physically advanced. Your body can withstand extreme weather conditions and nuclear fallout. Your offspring will be even stronger.”

Offspring? My palms begin to sweat. I had completely forgotten about that part of