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

realizing that she isn’t coming back, I grab the envelope Grant left me, and I head for the elevator myself. I reach my hand up to my cheek, trying desperately to preserve all I can of the kiss.

The elevator doors open on the top floor. The smile on my face is thrown off by the sight of Rene leaning on the wall. He pushes himself away and squares himself up to me. I can tell that he has been waiting for a while. His expression lets me know that he is aware of what I did to Titan, and disapproves.

He begins walking down the hall, away from me. “We need to talk.”

“I’m sorry.” I trot to catch up.

“Not here.” He walks on. I do my best to stay by his side, but his pace is awkward, somewhere between my regular walk and my speed-walk pace. I find myself in a cycle of lagging and catching up. It’s making me feel uncomfortable in my skin, and the silence isn’t helping any.

He leads me through various halls, past the scientists’ quarters and the medical bay. We go through a second set of doors, which I have been beyond once before.

As we pass the room with all the monitors, my mind shoots to Grant. I think about where in the world he might be right now and if he is safe. It makes me wonder if the outsiders in other parts of the world are just as hostile.

Rene stops just outside a door along the side of the hallway and places his hand on the scanner, then speaks his name. “Rene Anfang.”

The door opens, and he walks in. I follow, not sure of what to expect on the other side. What I see is not at all what I expected. It’s a small room. Against the wall to my left are a bookshelf and a desk. The wall directly in front of me is adorned with a dozen monitors showing different parts of the compound.

What really throws me off is the bed I see to my right and a door that I can only assume leads to a bathroom. This is Rene’s bedroom, and for the first time, I see him as he is. A man. Nothing more.

“Take a seat.” He points to the chair at the desk.

As I walk over, I see him grab a mask and place it over his nose and mouth. He hits a button on the side, and his breathing becomes louder.

“It helps me get more oxygen,” he says through the mask, his voice sounding deeper.

I stare at the man I once called my father. As he sits on his bed, vulnerable, I notice just how old he is. He’s a dying man. Though physically he could live another couple of decades, mentally he is worn and knows that he only has a few months left.

He takes a deep breath and speaks. “What happened with Titan—”

I jump in, wanting to explain myself. “I’m sorry. I didn’t—”

“Let me speak.” His words come slowly. “What happened with Titan was necessary. I commend you for taking charge and making sure that they all know you are the leader.”

I’m shocked. I expected to be yelled at.

“However,” he continues, “you must understand that you cannot do this alone, and you need to make sure that you all come together as a group. You will need to work together to survive, and if any of them don’t respect you, it will be difficult.

“I’m sorry Titan has been a challenge. As much as we can manipulate your genes, we cannot do anything about your personality and demeanor. This is what makes you all so unique.”

“I understand,” I say as I process what he’s told me. Deep down, I know Rene is right, but I hate the idea of having to make amends with Titan, and I know it won’t be easy. As much as he hated me before, he must detest me now.

“Be a leader, Atom. Not a dictator.” He lies down in his bed.

His words resonate deep within me. Through all the lessons I’ve had, and books that I have read, not one dictator was looked at favorably. “I will.”

Though the mask covers most of his face, I can tell by his eyes that he is smiling at me. “You can see your way back.”

I stand and walk to the door, looking back at him before I leave. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear he was already asleep. I can’t imagine the stress he must suffer from with running this compound.

I slow down as I pass the room with the monitors, trying to see as much as I can, part of me hoping that I might catch a glimpse of Grant or 80 on one of the screens. No such luck. Exhaustion has begun to creep through me, so I choose not to linger any longer and head back to my bedroom.

Thankfully the hallways are empty, so I can walk back without a detour. After a quick shower, I crawl into bed with the envelope Grant left me. The plastic feels smooth in my fingers. Unsure of what I might find, I pull out the contents.

The first sheet I see is a list of simulations—the jungle, a city, and the desert, among others. One of them stands out to me and sends a chill through my spine. I reread it to make sure I saw it correctly. ‘Dead bodies.’ I’m too tired to think much of it, but I know Grant would not have added it if he didn’t believe it was important.

The second sheet is a list of instructions on how to enter the simulations. It also includes instructions on something titled ‘Hologram Battles.’ There isn’t anything indicating what those might be.

The last sheet is addressed to me and is written like a formal letter. As I read it, a gambit of emotions compete for my attention. I feel pain, anger, and fear, but mostly shock and betrayal.

*****

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