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

have turned to face me. I close my eyes and take a deep breath to ease the dizziness that is climbing to my head.

“It doesn’t matter.” I open my eyes. “Agree with what the outsiders do or don’t. It doesn’t matter. The scientists have already decided their fate.”

The group looks around at each other. Some appear to want to say something, but they bite their tongues. They know that I’m right. Continuing to argue their point won’t change the eventual outcome. After a few moments, everyone disperses into small groups. Some lie back, and others talk.

Fe has joined Hydro and Al near the weapons cache. Before I join them, I go and check on Ev. Mag, K, and Ox have all joined her. As I gingerly make my way over, I see that Ev is moving around as she talks, and I’m glad to know that she has recovered from the brink of death.

“How are you feeling?” I sit down among the group, wincing as I do so.

“I’m fine.” She looks at me without making eye contact. “Thank you for what you did.”

“You would have done the same.” I smile. She gives me a slight smile but still won’t look me in the eye. It makes me feel uncomfortable, but I’m guessing that she’s embarrassed about what happened. Now that things have settled, I see that her face and body are covered in cuts.

Ev and I sit in awkward silence. K, Mag, and Ox aren’t making it any better with their quietude. I’m about to get back to my feet when K breaks the silence. “How bad do you think it is up there?”

“It was pretty horrible,” Ev replies.

“I was on the roof of the library when it started, and they were launching a lot over the walls,” I add. Ev shoots me a disappointed look that takes me by surprise. I know that she isn’t a fan of the roof, but the look carries more weight than mere disapproval.

Just as the blanket of silence is about to settle, the sounds of the elevator’s mechanical gears come to life. Everyone turns their gaze to the elevator doors, and I see out of the corner of my eyes that the other groups have done the same. A sudden fear tears through my body. What if it’s the outsiders?

“Everybody take cover! If you are close to the weapons cache, grab a weapon,” I shout as I jump to my feet. The pain in my leg rushes blood to my head, and I fall back to the ground. I take a deep breath as I rise to my feet again.

Titan is at the weapons cache handing out the rifles, and I see the Genesys hide behind pads and pillars. I run to the simulation computer and manage to put in a code just as I hear the elevator doors open. Instantly the room transforms into a dense forest in the middle of the night. I look around and can’t see any of the other Genesys. The simulation has hidden us all well.

“Do not go after them. Let them come to you,” I yell. I just gave up my position, but I need to be the general.

When the slight echoes of my voice fade, the room’s silence is broken up by the sound of footsteps from the intruders exiting the elevator.

“Apokalupto!” I hear Rene’s distinct voice say. The simulation disappears, and I see Rene surrounded by drones. A shot fires from my left, and it hits one of the drones in the chest. The drone falls to the ground, moaning in pain.

“Hold your fire!” I yell.

“Sorry,” Sil says as he steps out from behind a pillar.

The rest of the Genesys step out from their hiding places and walk toward the center of the room. Rene moves forward as well, and I slowly make my way to the assembly.

“Is everyone okay?” Rene looks around. He sees my bandaged leg. “What happened to you?”

I look down at my leg and then at Ev. “A hole blew in the wall as I was running toward the elevator, and some shards hit my leg. Mag and the others took care of it.”

“We will get you to the medical ward when we get out of here. Actually, all of you will head down there to get looked over.” Rene speaks with an authoritative tone that I have not heard in a while.

“What happened?” Cal asks.

“The outsiders attacked us with short-range missiles. They caused a lot of damage, but we have it all under control,” Rene explains.

“Is everyone okay?” Hydro asks.

“We lost a lot of drones—and Dennis and a few others,” Rene says. I look over at Titan and see that he is hurt by the news of Dennis’s death. They must have gotten to know each other when I broke his arm.

I start to feel a sadness grow within me too. Dennis is the first person I have known to die. Grant and 80 both left the compound, but they are still alive as far as I know. There is always a chance I will see them again and maybe talk to them. Dennis is gone, and even though I didn’t know him well, I still knew him. I look at the group and see tears rolling down Ev’s cheeks. She knew him too.

“Can we get out of here? I need fresh air.” Titan works hard to keep his composure, and I am right there with him.

“Yes.” Rene turns toward the elevator. “Stay close and don’t be distracted by what you see. Once we get to the medical ward, you can ask questions.”

We follow behind Rene without any protest. The drones that accompanied him downstairs surround us in a circle as we walk, their weapons raised and ready.

“Half of you come up with me. The other half take the next ride,” Rene says as he enters the elevator. I follow in behind him along with half the Genesys and half the drones.

The doors close, and the ride up feels