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

bumpier than usual. I’m not sure if it’s because of the weight from the crowded elevator or because of the attack. As the elevator doors open, the first thing I notice is the crisp air that sweeps in. My mind jumps to the blast in the wall that happened as Ev and I were running past, and I immediately know that it’s the source of the breeze.

A brightness blinds me as the doors open entirely, and I instinctively cover my eyes with my hands. As I pull them away and my eyes clear the red haze from their view, I see that the source of the light is the sun. Not only is it morning, but there is also a giant hole in what used to be the hallway. More than one missile hit this area.

As I step out of the elevator, I look around at the piles of rubble; I take a deep breath, and the sting of smoke fills my lungs. My ears are filled with an abundance of sound—drones shouting, machines moving into position around the perimeter of the compound, the gasps of the Genesys around me. I know that the second the others join us, they will be experiencing the same sensory overload that we are right now.

The instant I hear the elevator doors open behind me, a cluster of the flying crafts streak overhead. They whoosh past, and a sudden clarity invades my head. I’ve experienced the world outside the compound, but I’ve been naïve to the extent of desperation. The world is at war with itself.

The Ragnarok that the scientists are planning is only expediting the inevitable, because this current version of humans is doomed to extinction. We Genesys are the next step in human evolution, and we were created in a lab.

“What are those?” Al says, snapping me out of my trance.

“Flyz,” Rene responds curtly. He looks at the group. “Everyone’s here. Let’s go.”

Rene walks us down the destroyed hallway. Aside from the sporadic gasps of shock and surprise, everyone remains quiet. We pass the area of the hallway that used to be the other boys’ rooms and mine. If it weren’t for the fact that I have been down the hallway hundreds of times and that I can see some of the beds under the rubble, I would have no clue that people used to sleep here.

As we step over fallen pieces of the walls and roof, I take a look at what used to be my room. Right between the bathroom and the closet is a giant hole. Even the ground has been destroyed. It looks as though a missile hit my room directly. The charred remains of my bed lie in the small hole in the floor. I realize just how close we all were to being killed. If I hadn’t gotten everyone into the simulation room, we might not have survived. The mumbles I hear behind me tell me that the other guys realize how close they were to dying.

The second we reach the end of this hallway and turn the corner, the compound looks completely unscathed. Other than a layer of dust from the rubble that’s settled on the floor, this hallway seems untouched. As we continue toward the medical ward, I feel a sense of calm creep in. It appears no other parts of the main compound were damaged.

That calm rushes away the second we turn the corner to the hallway with the girls’ rooms. It has also been destroyed. I hear a couple of sobs behind me as the girls take in the devastation. I look over at Ev, who is checking out her room behind me. Her stare is stiff, but the second her focus changes to make eye contact with me, she looks away. She’s mad at me about something, and I don’t like it.

As we carefully step over the rubble and head for the door that leads us to the scientists’ quarters and the medical ward, a thought crosses my mind. This was not a random attack; this was targeted. They knew where they were launching.

We pass through the doors and wind our way to the medical ward. Up until now, the hallways have been pretty calm. The medical ward, however, is a mess of activity. At least a hundred people are running around: drones running security, doctors screaming orders, injured scientists seeking medical attention. The giant room has a perimeter of drones ready for action.

The wall opposite to where we enter has a giant hole in it, and I can only assume that’s where Dennis lost his life. A lump forms in my throat, and I try hard to hold back my emotions. Through the hole, I see more drones patrolling. Another group of Flyz passes overhead. I’m so focused on the activity going on outside that only now do I notice that the entire medical ward has stopped and is looking at us.

“I would like to speak with Bruce and Ivana. Everyone else can return to what they were doing,” Rene shouts over the crowd. His voice is authoritative, and it’s the first time I realize how much power he has over the people at this compound.

Two people in medical scrubs appear from the sea of people, and they make their way toward us. The man is about my height, with a sharp jawline and a well-groomed head of hair that juxtapose his bloodied attire. The woman is fit with short black hair, and her petite frame gives her a cute, spunky appearance. Both are relieved at being pulled away from their previous task.

Rene turns to us. “Everyone listen up. Dr. Bruce Peters and Dr. Ivana Metzger will look you all over. Do as they say. When they are done with you, come find me, and we will assign you new rooms.”

Rene walks away as Dr. Peters and Dr. Metzger arrive. They walk around us and scan our bodies for any surface injuries. Dr. Peters spots my bandage.

“What happened to your