by Allison Goh
ALPHA
Sequel to “The Genetic Lottery”
(#2 EGALIA Series)
By Allison Goh
© 2014 Allison Goh
All Rights Reserved.
Contact: [email protected]
To my dearest family & friends for all their support.
Contents
Chapter 1: The Escape
Chapter 2: Rendezvous
Chapter 3: Infinity Chip
Chapter 4: Bringing out the Big Guns
Chapter 5: Rags to Riches
Chapter 6: Curveball
Chapter 7: The Immortal Jellyfish
Chapter 8: This is an Intervention
Chapter 9: House of Cards
Chapter 10: The Ballot is Stronger than the Bullet
Chapter 11: Quicksand
Chapter 12: Assembly, Men
Chapter 13: Pleasure is the Bait of Sin
Chapter 14: Heaven has no Rage like Love turned to Hatred
Chapter 15: Boom, Boom, Boom!
Chapter 16: Castles in the Sky
Chapter 17: My brother’s Keeper
Chapter 18: Ohana Means Family
Chapter 1: The Escape
Kate Molten stood in front of an old and greying building, one that looked to have been uninhabited for some time. She tapped her foot anxiously as she desperately tried to recall the passcode.
Billy was keeping watch. He looked around furtively. He was watching to make sure no one was following them from the facility. He had his guard up as he knew that they only had minutes to spare before Orion’s men would catch up.
“Damn it. Think!” Kate said, frowning. She willed herself to calm down and recall the passcode.
“Of course!” Kate said. How could she forget! It was Max’s birthday!
Kate punched the numbers into the keypad and motioned to Billy to follow her. Billy looked relieved and quickly followed her lead into the building.
Once inside, motion detectors switched on the electricity and light flooded the room. Kate was filled with nostalgia as she took in her surroundings. The interior was a simple grey scale, outfitted with all sorts of science equipment. This was her laboratory. The secret hideout she had spent so many hours in researching the genetic selection project.
Kate sighed as she thought about Max. There was so much he didn’t know, so much he had to know. When she first heard from her husband that Max had faked his own death and started up a rival business all to avenge her, she was proud and yet also deeply regretful. Proud that he had the genius to engineer such an elaborate plan (a nod to her genetic selection project), but at the same time, devastated that he had gone through so much. His plan had worked. Although probably very differently from what he had imagined, but it had worked nonetheless, she was here now wasn’t she?
Kate cleared her mind of those idle thoughts. Now was not the time. She had a lot to do. There wasn’t enough time to be reminiscing about what’s past. Not with an enemy like Orion.
“Billy, the security systems are in the basement. They are pretty easy to work out. Please activate them and you should be able to monitor all activities at street level. We can’t let our guard down just yet.” Kate said.
Billy leaned in for a quick kiss. “Alright. I’ll take care of it. You go do what you need to do.”
Kate blushed. Back at the facility, there was hardly any time for Billy and her to have such private moments. She turned her face toward him and smiled, grateful for his company then and now.
“Thank you, Billy,” she said.
“I honestly can’t thank you enough. Without you, I would have never escaped… No, don’t even talk about escape, I would have never even survived that place...” Kate said as her eyes turned misty.
Billy enveloped Kate into a hug. No words were needed to express his sentiment. There was nothing he wasn’t willing to do for her.
Kate lingered in the warmth of their embrace but before long, she pulled away. Years of sneaking around at the facility had made her hyper sensitive about her surroundings. She wasn’t used to having long moments of intimacy together without checking to see if anyone was watching.
Snapped out of their reverie, Kate and Billy returned to work. Kate began booting up the computers as Billy left the room to go to the basement.
They had no time to lose. They had to ensure their escape was complete. Running away from the facility was the first step but to completely evade Orion would be a whole different ball game. And if there was nothing else that Kate learnt from the years she spent under Orion’s thumb, she knew that he wasn’t a patient man. If he wanted them found, they wouldn’t be able to hide for long.
Chapter 2: Rendezvous
Max Molten squeezed his eyes shut. He willed himself to fall asleep. He had been tossing and turning in his bed for an hour. He had tried to ignore the microchip his mother had slipped to him right before she escaped, but the small metal object felt as if it was burning a hole through his pocket. Its presence burned against his leg with a vengeance.
As much as he tried to hate his mother, Max just couldn’t do it. He had replayed what she had said in the facility a hundred times in his head. While she had admitted to wrongdoing, and Orion had readily confirmed the story of Kate’s murderous intent toward the genetically selected children, his mother’s escape left loose ends untied. Was what is father and Orion saying really true? Was it really all his mother’s fault?
Kate’s escape embodied hope. As long as she remained out there, that tiny flame of hope at the pit of his stomach remained flickering and Max couldn’t quite give up on his mother altogether. At least, not just yet.
In the end, his heart won out. He wanted to believe. He wanted to believe that there was another version of the story, that his mother was not the cold-hearted vindictive woman his father and Orion had him believe.
Max muttered an inaudible curse as he finally swung his legs over the side of his bed and got out. He walked toward his desk and turned on his computer. His hand shook as he gingerly removed the microchip from his pocket.
This was it.
The moment of truth.
Max plugged the device into his computer.
Wait. It doesn’t work? Max was stumped. The tiny square device wouldn’t connect to his computer.
Max turned the microchip in his hand and examined it from various angles. After quite some time, Max still couldn’t figure it out.
This wouldn’t do, he thought. He pulled up some screens on his computer and begun a search as to what kind of microchip this was.
Half an hour later, Max found what he was looking for. The exact model.
Oh! This was interesting, Max thought as her perused the specifications of the microchip online. No wonder he couldn’t connect it to his computer like regular chips.
Max took the microchip and felt its sides with great care. He felt the slight bump on one side that the online specifications said he would. Excited, he applied pressure on it.
There was a clicking sound as the top of the microchip opened to reveal a flat metal circle.
Now this was the interesting part, Max thought.
He bit his thumb hard. Then, he pressed the drop of blood that had begun to form on his thumb onto the metal circle at the top of the chip.
It worked! Max let out a silent cheer as the microchip unlocked itself.
Max quickly plugged it into his computer and unlocked its contents. What kind of information would it contain? Would all his questions finally be resolved?
To his surprise, and no small measure of disappointment as well, all that the microchip contained was a 6 digit
code.
Max was shocked. What was he supposed to do now?
Max leaned back into his chair. This was going to be a long night. Looks like he wasn’t going to get any easy answers.
After several hours, Max still had zero leads on the 6 digit code that was the sole content of the microchip his mother left him. His eyes were bloodshot from staring at the computer screen so intently for so long.
Max yawned. He was tired. Wouldn’t it be nice if he had the Infinity Chip installed? Max snorted at the sudden thought. Well it was no use thinking about it now, that entire project had gone down the drain.
It was a pity that the Infinity Chip had to fizzle out that way. It was a great invention. Slightly unstable, yes, but what’s a little side effect in exchange for brilliance? It wasn’t as if those people who lined up for the Infinity Chip didn’t know what they were getting themselves into. They were full grown adults who desired the product to give them an edge over others. They certainly wouldn’t have felt pity for any of those whom they stepped on to achieve success.
Success doesn’t come without risk. He himself had been a risk. His mother had chosen to defy the rules and it had paid off. Look at all the Alpha 5 children. If his mother hadn’t had the foresight to engineer the genetic selection project, they all would never have existed today. And how or where else would the Alpha 5 have found more worthy heirs? Would they really have been content to have been allocated children from The Genetic Lottery? It was obvious that his mother’s choices more than 20 years ago benefitted all of them. To paint her wholly in a villainous light was unfair.
Wait a minute! That’s right! Whatever this code was, it would have been in reference to the past. The world she knew was not the current Egalia he knew today. This code, whatever it was, was linked to something in the past. No wonder he couldn’t find anything with his searches!
Max turned to his computer screen with renewed vigour, convinced he was onto something. After several minutes, Max found something.
“Yes!” Max said, as he pumped his fist in the air.
The 6 digit code was a postal code using the grid location systems of the past. No wonder he didn’t recognize it.
Using satellite imagery, Max begun a preliminary scope of the location which corresponded with the postal code. To his disappointment, it marked out a fairly large area. The area appeared largely commercial with several buildings, though many seemed to be unoccupied. Max realized he would have to explore the area personally to hopefully discover the meaning behind the code his mother left him.
A strange feeling of déjà vu overcame him. This was so much like the time he was trying to solve the mystery of Level & Co., the mysterious building that would turn out to be the facility where his mother was imprisoned.
Max couldn’t help but feel uneasy at what was in store for him. He hoped that what he would find wouldn’t be as shocking as the first time he had undertaken such a trip.
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Back in the laboratory, Kate had gotten much done. She had her finances in order and was starting to devise a strategy to clear her name and return among the Alpha5.
She had been pleased and somewhat touched that Billion had left their accounts offshore untouched, allowing her access to much needed funds. It was surely intentional that he kept all the security clearances the same, after all those years and even after her escape. He must have known she would need funds to complete her escape. She felt heartened that Billion would support her that way.
Kate didn’t love Billion but she cared for him. In their heyday, Billion had been the perfect companion to her Alpha woman. A pillar of support as she battled competitors and worked tirelessly to build Molten Industries. He was a gentle and caring father to Max and she couldn’t have asked for more.
Trouble started when Orion’s ambitions got the better of him. Not only did he threaten their corporate standing and constantly tried to undermine Kate’s control over Molten Industries, when he found out about the genetic selection project, he forced himself in headway, and demanded access to all her research.
Kate looked grim as she recalled those stressful days, having to deal with Orion’s relentless pressure both on the business front and personal front with regards to the genetic selection project.
Billion had been of no help. He was a pushover both in managing the company and the genetic selection project. He just couldn’t or wouldn’t stand up to Orion.
Finally, Kate caved in as well and let Orion participate in the genetic selection project. She had assured herself and thought optimistically that at the very least, he brought a wealth of additional resources to the table. But how naïve she was. Once Orion had access to her research, he completely turned the project around and installed his own personnel to ensure he was the one in charge instead.
The ultimate betrayal came when Orion falsely accused her of seeking to endanger the lives of the Alpha5 children. An alleged paper trail was traced back to her which detailed purchases of lethal substances. Even worse, Orion somehow got wind of a video which showed her injecting an unknown substance into Ren’s arm. That was the final nail in the coffin, and it concretized her guilt in the eyes of the Alpha5.
Lies! All lies! Kate heaved with anger as she thought about the intricate set-up that Orion had engineered, which led the Alpha5 to turn their backs on her.
Kate’s knuckles turned white as she clenched her fist tight. How stupid she was to fall into Orion’s trap! It was too late once he had his claws in her. She had no choice but to agree to imprisonment if she wanted her life to be spared.
She had been heartbroken when Billion caved from the pressure and acquiesced to her imprisonment. In that moment, she stopped fighting and resigned to her fate. If even her own husband couldn’t help her, no one else would.
Billion did visit her every week at the facility and ensured she lived comfortably. But while he saw those visits as proof of his undying love, every visit he made without offering a chance for escape, every conversation they had where he desperately tried to avoid the topic of her freedom, just demonstrated time and time again how powerless he was.
Kate sighed, she really shouldn’t blame Billion. It wasn’t as if she didn’t know his character. After all these years, she had come to accept that she had been bested by Orion. It wasn’t anyone else’s fault. They were all casualties to the fight, pawns used by Orion to achieve his goals. She shouldn’t blame Billion or the rest of the Alpha5. After all, she was the one who fell for his trap.
But now, things were different. She finally had a chance to start afresh. She wasn’t going to waste it. She was going to tell the truth and clear her name. She just needed to gather more allies.
Kate was deep in thought about her next move, but Billy’s voice across the intercom broke her stupor.
“Kate, your son is here,” he said. “What should I do?”
Kate jumped up! Finally!
“Let him in!” Kate said in excitement, “Be discrete!”
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Mother and son embraced. The room stilled as the force of emotion in that moment seemed to stop time.
“Mom! I’m so glad you are ok!” Max said, his eyes teary.
Kate smiled, happiness filled her as she gazed fondly at her son.
“Max, I’m so glad you’re here…” Kate said.
“It wasn’t easy but I figured it out, I have some experience in sleuthing now,” Max chuckled, recalling his days masquerading as Alex Etak.
Kate gave a half smile. She was glad her son could joke about those days.
“Mom, you’re in danger,” Max said, “Are you sure you’re safe? I know that Orion hasn’t let up on finding you,” Max said.
“Don’t worry. He won’t find this place,” Kate said, “I’ve been making ample preparations… I have a plan.”
Before Max could reply, Kate continued, "Max, I have to tell you something now.” Kate grabbed Max and pulled him toward her.
“If I don’t make it, you have
to expose him!” she said, shaking Max roughly.
“Who? Orion?” Max said, his heart full of trepidation as he anticipated what his mother was going to tell him. After 3 years, he was finally going to hear the truth.
Kate’s face looked grim. “You better have a seat Max, whatever you think you know, you don’t know the half of it…”
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Max’s face was as pale as a sheet. He didn’t believe his ears. What on earth? This was even more far-fetched than his most imaginative theory on what had happened between his mother and the Alpha5 more than two decades ago.
Kate confirmed that she was the architect of the genetic selection project. She had come up with the idea and was the first to put in the funds to research it. And yes, she had been furious when Orion had discovered her budding project and demanded to be a part of it. However, that was not the shocker, far from it.
Max and Ren, were the first out of the Alpha5 to be ‘born’. Kate and Billion, Orion and Jean, were proud parents, more than satisfied with what they created. Max and Ren were everything their hearts desired, customized to a tee and the cutest, most precocious toddlers you could find.
Ren often had playdates with Max as their parents took turns to babysit. It was hardly a chore, watching their toddlers playing games and reading books way beyond their age group. Kate admitted she was a little jealous of Ren’s progress. His intelligence and motor skills were exceptional and he seemed to even grow quicker than Max. When snide remarks about Max reached her ears, Kate was furious, going out of her way to prove them wrong. This fuelled Kate’s reputation as a jealous mother, and Orion seemed to get a kick out of it. He continued their playdates and encouraged the comparisons between Ren and Max.
However, any malicious intent toward Ren or the other children stopped at petty jealousy. Kate never had any intention to harm any of them. The truth was that Kate had stumbled upon Orion’s deepest and darkest secret and Orion would stop at nothing to make sure it remained a secret.
It all started on one of Ren and Max’s usual playdates. It was Kate’s turn to babysit.