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

body. The tube is pumping her blood out and into a pouch that hangs on a stand next to her. The stand is surrounded by machines that are the beeps’ source—they look like ancient medical devices.

Just as I am about to step in, a man walks toward Fe from the back of the room. It’s Dr. Peters. He checks her pulse and then looks at the machines around her.

“Let her go!” I step through the door.

Dr. Peters jumps. When he sees me, he grabs a sharp object and holds it to Fe’s throat. “Don’t come closer.”

I stand my ground but slowly grab hold of my chain. A quick flash of the same situation with Brianna and Dr. Cicca speeds through my head. I can’t let the same thing happen to Fe.

“What are you doing to her?” I ask, trying to sneak a step closer.

“You guys are built to be able to withstand the nuclear fallout. It’s built into your DNA. I’m taking her blood to be able to meld her DNA with ours. Hopefully, it will give us a chance for survival,” he responds. I notice that the fear in his eyes has less to do with me being here and more to do with the Ragnarok.

“Who else are you getting the blood for?” I step closer, hoping that the questions will distract him from my advancements.

“Stay back.” He brings the sharp utensil to the side of Fe’s head. “It’s for Brianna and me.”

This surprises me. Either they must have been together, or Brianna was smarter than I gave her credit for. Whichever it was, I can tell that he has affections toward her. I smile.

“Why are you smiling?” He brings his utensil back to Fe’s neck.

“She’s dead,” I say flatly. “I killed her.”

In a brief moment of shock and grief, Dr. Peters lets down his guard and drops his hand. I take advantage and whip my chain at the chair. The end wraps around one of the legs, and before Dr. Peters can react, I pull the chair and Fe away from him.

Dr. Peters now stands completely exposed. He looks around for cover but can’t find any. He throws his sharp utensil at me. “Help!”

I whip my chain at him again, wrapping it around his waist. With my left hand, I pull him hard toward me. As he approaches, I swing with my right fist and connect right between his eyes. I can feel his nose break under my fingers.

His head falls back, and I can tell that I’ve knocked him unconscious. I hit him a couple more times to make sure and let him fall to the ground. I don’t kill him, because I want him to experience the Ragnarok.

I unravel my chain and tend to Fe. “Fe! Wake up. It’s me.”

Her eyes open slowly, and a glimmer shines in them when she recognizes me. She struggles to speak. “Atom.”

“I’m here.” I rip the tube and wires off of her body. “We have to go.”

She tries to get herself up from the chair but can’t. I’m going to have to carry her, so I wrap my chain around my shoulder and lift her from the chair. If we are attacked, I will have no way to defend us. All I have left now is speed.

I run into the hallway, hoping that it’s still empty. Luckily it is. I run down the hallway, every muscle in my body screaming with pain. When I get to the elevator shaft, I realize that the only option I have is the stairs.

I slowly push the door to the stairs open and look down. About three floors below me are maybe a half-dozen outsiders and drones waiting. I look up and see that there are about nine more floors to the top of the building. If they spot me, there is no way that I can outrun them while carrying Fe.

As quietly as I can, I step into the stairway. I begin my ascent, but the second I am free from the door, it slams behind me.

“Up there!” I hear an outsider scream. Shots fly by me.

“Damn it!” I run as fast as my legs will carry me. Fe moans at each hard step I take.

After about two floors, I look back down and see that my pursuers have gained on me. They have also doubled in number. There is no way I will make it to the top before they catch us. Regardless, I press on, even though my pace has slowed.

After another floor, I hear activity above me and see two drones making their way down toward me. They are only about a floor above. There is no way out.

I set Fe down on the stairs and unravel my chain. If we are going to die here, I will make sure that I do all I can to make it hell for them to kill us.

Fe looks at me. “I’m sorry, Atom.”

“What are you talking about?” I say as I ready myself.

“I was mad and hurt that you rejected me. I ran off. I wanted to see the pyramid up close because of how you described it.” Tears are streaking down her face. “I wanted to have that connection with you.”

“I didn’t reject you, Fe.” I look at her. “I had things I needed to deal with and focus on.”

“I know. I should have trusted you.” She wipes her eyes. “Instead, I got myself captured and dragged here. This is my fault.”

I want to respond, but I don’t have the time. The two drones from above are only a few steps away. I ready myself. Right before I can do anything, the two drones open fire, deliberately missing Fe and me. I look at their targets and see that they are shooting the outsiders and drones beneath us.

“Go! Get to the roof,” one of the drones yells.

It takes me a second, but then I realize that they are on our side. I throw the chain over my shoulder and pick Fe