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

and build things.” At least, I think that’s what it is. All three of them appear to be happy with their placement.

“K, Hydro, and I will be taking survival techniques. This deals more with hunting and gathering, building shelters and harvesting crops.” I glance over at K and Hydro. Hydro looks uneasy, like Al.

“Why do we have to be separated?” she asks. The murmurs of some of the other Genesys tell me that they were wondering the same thing.

“Rene believes that we don’t have time to all take each class. He said that we would need to teach each other what we’ve learned.” That’s the most satisfactory answer I can think of.

“Why don’t we have time?” Ox asks.

“Yeah. What’s going on?” Titan adds.

I take a deep breath. “I honestly don’t know for sure. All I can think of is that he is afraid of more threats from the outsiders. I was just outside talking to one of the drones—”

“80 is back?” Ev perks up.

“Yes.” I smile at her.

“Who’s 80?” Fe asks. There is a hint of jealousy in her voice.

“He’s one of the drones. He was sent away to work on the bunkers, but they brought him and most of the other drones back after the last attack.” As I look around the room, I get the sense that some of the Genesys might not receive 80 too well. Cal seems a bit disturbed.

“So Rene is afraid that the outsiders will attack again?” Mag speaks up. Fear glazes her words.

“I believe so. When I was out there, I saw many of those Flyz hovering above the city and attacking various things. I think they are trying to kill off any threat from outside the compound.” I’m processing the information as I say it, and I’m not sure how I feel about it. I don’t like the idea of living in fear of another attack. However, I still understand why the outsiders are doing what they are.

“That’s so wrong!” Hydro shouts. The anger behind her eyes is even louder. She storms out of the room, and Al follows after her.

The rest of the group looks at me in anticipation of any more information. “We’re done.”

Most of them walk out. Some talk among themselves about what I just told them. Cal walks up to me and smacks me on the shoulder. “I’m glad you’re back.”

“Me too, buddy.” I smack him back. “You should come out to the grounds by the drone quarters tonight. I’m meeting up with 80, and I want to introduce you.”

“Sure.” Cal smiles, but there isn’t much behind it. He walks out of the room.

I turn and see Ev standing right next to me. I stumble over my words. “You should come too. I know he would be happy to see you.”

“We need to talk,” she says flatly. Ev turns and heads out of the room.

I catch up and do my best to match her pace. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” she responds and continues down the hallways without saying another word. After a few more turns, she reaches a door and walks in. I follow.

“What’s going on?” I look around the room. The layout is similar to Grant’s old room, except for the monitors. The wall that would have multiple monitors only has a single big one. Next to it is another bookshelf with an abundance of folders and tablets.

Ev leans against the wall farthest away from me. “I’ve been looking around and reading a lot of the files in this room—”

“What are the files?” I interrupt.

“Just listen, Atom.” She glares at me.

“Sorry.” I lean against the wall behind me.

“As I was saying.” She grabs a tablet from the desk beside her. “I was going through everything in this room. Rene had asked me to. At first, it was just boring files and data, but then I came across this tablet.”

“What’s on it?” My curiosity wins out.

Ev stares at me. “What I found on here was a series of messages about a gathering of scientists who are looking to sabotage Rene’s plan.”

“Really? Who sent those messages? Whose room is this?” I can’t contain my excitement at the breakthrough.

“Will you just shut up and listen?” Ev yells at me.

“Fine!” I feel some anger building inside me.

“This one message was alarming.” Ev holds the tablet up to my face.

Mutineers!

Just a reminder that the attack on the compound will be happening this evening. Be sure to stay away from the hot zones. 

“Did you know about this, Atom? The Mutineers?” She stares intently at me.

“I didn’t know that they called themselves that. Grant had told me to keep an eye out,” I say.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” She raises her voice. She’s obviously hurt.

“He asked me not to. Whose room is this?” I feel my voice rising.

“I thought we had no secrets!” Tears begin to travel down her cheeks.

I push against the wall to walk over to her, but I stop myself, unsure how she would react. “I’m sorry, Ev. But now you know, and we need to find out who these people are before anything else happens.”

“Does Rene know?” She wipes the tears from her face.

“He figured it out after the attack. He’s asked me to help him out, and I want you to help me out.” I smile at her.

She gives me half a smile. “Okay.”

“We need to tell Rene about this,” I say.

“Yeah. I’ll keep reading through everything to see if I can find out anything more,” she says, pushing herself away from the wall.

“Ev, whose room was this?” I try one last time, pleading to her with my eyes.

“Dr. Dennis O’Neal.” She looks right at me.

“Dennis?” The name hits me hard. He was the chief doctor in the medical bay. He helped 80, Titan, and even Rene recover. I felt like I trusted him. If he was a part of these Mutineers, that means it really could be anyone.

CHAPTER XIII

This night is one of the darkest I can remember. I look around as I walk