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

“After our classes tomorrow,” I say.

“Fine.” He walks toward the far end of the field and looks into a hole. I had previously thought that this hole was from the attacks, but now I realize that they are actually part of the playing field. He looks at me. “Anything else?”

I look around to make sure no one is close by. “Actually, yes. I was hoping you could help me with something more important, but you have to promise to keep this to yourself.”

He turns to face me and raises an eyebrow. “Yeah?”

“So there is a group of scientists who are planning to sabotage Rene’s plans,” I begin.

“Really?” 80 asks, surprised. He looks around to see if anyone is watching.

I continue, “Last night, I saw two of the scientists meeting outside, on the opposite end of the compound, by the library. I was hoping you could maybe have the drones—”

“Don’t call us that,” 80 cuts me off sharply.

“What?” I’m caught off guard.

“We are Integers. Drones makes us sound like we are incapable of our own thoughts,” 80 states definitively.

“Okay, sorry.” I agree with him, but the education came out of nowhere and seemed aggressive. “Well, I was hoping the other Integers could let you know which scientists have been meeting, and then you could tell me. Don’t tell them why they are gathering this information, though.”

80 looks into my eyes as he thinks. A slight hint of compassion graces his face, but it quickly disappears as he makes a decision in his head. “Yeah, that’s fine. I’m afraid many of us don’t know the scientists by name.”

“That’s okay. A description will be enough. We have a database of pictures that we can reference.” I’m excited to have 80 helping me out. I feel we have lost a connection since he’s been back, and this will be a great way to get it back.

80 puts his hand on my shoulder and smiles. “I’ll see you tomorrow, buddy.”

“Yes you will.” I smile back. He runs off, and I head back toward my part of the compound.

As I walk back, I cut through the hole in the wall of the medical ward. When I step through, I spot Dr. Peters working in one of the rooms. We wave at each other, but just before I get to the medical ward’s exit, I realize that it would probably be best to have a doctor at the Breekbal game. 80 mentioned before that the games could get physical.

I turn back toward the room with Dr. Peters. He spots me, turns off what he was working on, and meets me outside of the room.

“Can I help you, Atom?” he asks.

“Actually, I was hoping that you could oversee a game of Breekbal that myself and the Genesys are having against the drones.” I instantly apologize to 80 in my head for using that term.

“I would strongly advise against doing such a thing. Most of the games cause multiple injuries, and some of them severe,” he warns me.

“I understand that, but I need to do something to get all the Genesys working as a team. I feel this would be a great opportunity to do that,” I plead.

“Did you ask Rene?” he presses.

“I’m not going to,” I say defiantly. “He’s put me in charge of the others, and this is my decision.”

“Very well,” he says as he walks past me.

“The game is after our classes,” I shout after him.

He walks out of the medical ward and leaves me alone in the giant space. When I look around, I realize that most of the time I have spent here has been during utter mayhem. Chills creep over my body, and I take that as my cue to leave. I jog out of the medical ward and through the hallways to Ev’s room.

Just before I reach her door, I see Dr. Kivuli turn the corner. Her hair is a little more unkempt than usual, and she is obviously flustered.

“Atom. What are you doing?” She adjusts herself. Her demeanor is very peculiar.

“I was just taking a walk.” I’m lying, but she doesn’t need to know what I’m up to.

She raises her eyebrow at me. “Of course. You haven’t stopped by to see me recently.”

“Yeah, sorry about that.” I’m not really sorry; I don’t like being around her. Especially now that I know she’s plotting against Rene. I do my best to hide my disdain from her.

“Well, why don’t we have a session now?” she asks.

“Really?” I’m caught off guard by the question.

“Sure. I don’t have anything else going on, and you must certainly be under a lot of stress,” she insists.

She is right about being under a lot of stress, but the last thing I want to do right now is talk to her. However, I realize that by talking to her, I might be able to figure out more of her motive. I clench my teeth at what I’m about to say. “Okay.”

Dr. Kivuli turns, and we walk silently to her office. She closes the door behind me after we enter. I take a seat, and she sits directly across from me.

“What’s on your mind, Atom?” she pries.

I shift in my seat, not wanting to answer, but I know I have to play the game. I exhale and decide to actually tell her what’s on my mind. “I’m having trouble getting the Genesys to work together. So many of them tend to act on their own when we should be working as a team. There is always some pushback when I tell them what to do.”

“Do you ever listen to what they have to say, or do you just tell them what to do?” She leans in.

“I guess I just tell them.” I haven’t really thought of that before.

“Great leaders listen to those they lead. Everyone must know that their opinions and ideas are valid,” she says, leaning back in her chair. I recall Ev saying something similar to me not too long ago.

I process what she’s