The Genesis Project

by Tigris Eden

  It had been complete chaos during the United Federations of the Universe’s second Uni-war. Agreements were broken and treaties were put into place to stop the resulting fallouts. The U.F.U had banned the return to Earth, and those few humans that had escaped were sent to Sanctuary to live out the rest of their days. They were not allowed to reproduce, nor was their DNA code stored on the U.F.U’s Regeneration planet. Humans were now extinct. U.F.U hadn’t cared that the ending result would be death to their kind, as the one nutrient needed had been rendered obsolete. There were rogue humans who still lived within the solar system on neighboring planets, but they would never make the journey home to what was now called New Earth. Dr. Blackmore long assumed that they too were now extinct as their DNA code was only matched for cross-breeding with his kind. Humans despised their ancestors and made their contempt universally known. Vampires as they were called, but Pars to everyone else. Pars had been a term given to them by the Celestrial’s. They were a neutral faction that only became involved with U.F.U business when no solutions were in sight. They were ethereal creatures with ghost like qualities, and voices that could lull you to your death, if necessary. There were other Pars out there, parasitic in nature. Beings that lived off another breathing host in order to survive. To every myth lies the truth. They’d been given the term, not because they needed their host to survive, but because they had become gluttonous in their nature. Over-feeding and over-indulging in the pleasures of the skin. There had been trials that had lasted multiple rotations in the earlier times of their species discovery.

  But when their planet had gone through a rotational transition, they’d suffered greatly. All planets went through a transitional phase. This was when the planet revived itself and restocked its nutrients. On Vaggo’s home planet, blood was abundant. But when the planet transitioned, the blood had dried up, causing their kind to go in search of an alternate substitute. What they found was on Earth. So alike their two species, they found that they were closely related and crossbreeding compatible, but with a much shorter life capacity. The humans were the perfect solution to their fast growing problem. When they first settled, they’d been welcomed with open arms. Given land and worshiped. But at the turn of one of their most brutal centuries, things rapidly changed. War had broken out across several territories in a struggle for power. Vlad Tepes of House Drãculești committed horrible crimes against the humans. His great-great, grandfather had been the catalyst to start the first Uni-War. Then came the second, and now, Earth thousands of years later, was still recovering.

  Vaggo sighed as he watched Genesis on the vid-screen as she waited for Adam Reynard, the Chancellor’s son. Genesis Blackmore was now the first and last surviving human on what was now New Earth. She was the upgraded version of course, but still human. He’d given the council everything and now they wanted his daughter. She’d go to Academy and then return after his official test trials to resume her place by his side, in the lab. If they knew what she really was, they’d kill him and she would either be ushered off to Sanctuary like the other humans had been, or worse, experimented on. His work was secret, and the only way that the council had agreed to test trials was due to his solemn promise that the subjects were cloned mutations with no souls. Gen, definitely had a soul.

  They had their harvested humans, sure, but they were not living breathing humans. They were kept in meat lockers and harvested for the one thing they all needed to survive- blood. Letting Genesis go to the Academy was the only way for him to continue his work, and keep her safe. She’d tested well enough and she only needed one rotation at the Academy. Where other’s her age would be starting their first rotation and continuing until they were graduates, she only needed one full rotational cycle. He’d told the council she was his daughter from an unwedded union between himself and another faction from the south tier of the planet. Vyrkolakas’ skin was darker and their eyes varied in color, and Vaggo knew they wouldn’t investigate his claims as they considered southerners vile and barbaric. Back on their home planet, Vyrkolakas had been shunned for their darker skin tone, and when they’d settled on Earth, they’d moved to Macedonia which was now part of what use to be called Greece. They were divided by the hemisphere. Northern and Southern. The council accepted his excuse and part of their stipulation for Vaggo having an unsanctioned child was for her to go to the Academy like the rest of the maturing adults. Genesis would be home every lunar cycle and then again at harvest. The Chancellor’s son Adam was escorting her and would set her up to be acceptable in all the social circles. No one would suspect anything other than the obvious. She was different, and naturally they’d assume she was from the Southern Hemisphere.

  Chapter 2

  Gen stepped out into the night air and smiled. This was the first time she was going to meet Adam Reynard, son to Chancellor Reynard. She’d only seen him on the vid-screens, but what she saw, she wasn’t overly impressed with. He was careless and well known for his nefarious behavior toward the female species. He was also known for his tardiness. He’d be late to his own mating ceremony if given the chance.

  She was going to the Academy and wasn’t going to let her father down. The solar panels were closing as the lunar panels were being engaged when Adam pulled up on his lunar bike. Her father had explained that prior to the Uni-wars, automobiles and motor-bikes all ran on crude oils or natural fuel, but now everything was powered by the sun and what was left of the moon. New Earth was slowing trying to heal herself.

  The little electricity and hard materials that were accessible was for the elite, and the elite consisted of the Chancellor and the Genetics Council and their families. Lowly scientist who gave back to their community like her father had their electricity and water rationed. Gen made the best of what was given to her and as long as her lab time wasn’t interrupted she wasn’t going to complain. She loved working in the lab with her father.

  The sound of the lunar bike was loud and hurt her sensitive ears. She winced a bit and coughed on the cosmic plume of dust that choked out of his bike. Adam Reynard could careless about Earth’s atmosphere it seemed, and neither did the Chancellor. Her father choosing Adam as her escort was a bad decision on his part, but she would go along with her father’s wishes. Vaggo Blackmore did not make decisions unless there was a valid reason or an acceptable outcome.

  “We are going to be late.” Gen said, taking the steps two at a time. Her pack was full of supplements and her clothing gear was safely stored in her backpack. Having to carry them both would prove to be a bit of a challenge, but she couldn’t take nutrients from the source like everyone else did. Her nutrients were packed with vitamins and other types of herbs that her father concocted, because she was unable to drink from the source. The source were Pars that were able to drink from one another, after injecting themselves with genetically made albumin that acted as the bloods main source of nutrients, giving Pars a way to sustain life. In the recent years her father had perfected different flavors, to make it more appealing to others when they took the blood. Her father explained that although the albumin was genetically manufactured, it kept all Pars alive. It didn’t have the same euphoric feeling as taking from a human that was thrumming with life, but it solved a problem. To be able to take from a pure source while the heart still beat was more alluring and appealing than any Par could imagine. She wouldn’t tell her father, but the thought of taking straight from the vein scared her. Because she was lab born, she’d developed allergies to human blood as a result of not being in the womb to receive her host’s antibodies that would have made her immune and able to drink from the source. She knew she wasn’t truly a Par, but something else.

  Her father had seen to all her needs, including her fangs which helped her to blend in with the others. With the exception of her hair and skin tone she was just like everyone else. With a little extra kick. Her eyes and skin as well as her veins beneath, were at odds with the paler milky, white skin of all Pars that resided in the Northern Hemisphere. Their electric blu
e eyes and platinum white hair separated her from the masses. Her hair would always remain the same midnight black, she’d tried to die her hair once, but her hair wouldn’t take to the chemicals. Fitting in was not an option and Gen was more than okay with that.

  She knew how Adam saw her, odd and something different he could show off to his friends, which is why he’d agreed to escort her. Being the understudy to her father was lonely, but appreciated. She didn’t want the extra attention she would garner when attending the Academy, but she did so with the knowledge that in one rotation she’d never had to deal with it again. Adam Reynard was tall and pleasing to the female population. His skin was milky white, and blemish free. Perfect electric blue eyes encased in long, thick eyelashes. He kept his hair choppy in varying lengths and he had an athletically active physique. Broad shoulders and a lean waist and in top physical form. She knew from the vidfeeds that he received a lot of female attention. Her enhancements allowed her to accurately size him up, but she’d never sized anyone up and considered them pleasing. Gen ignored the errant thought; she wasn’t going to waste another minute thinking of things that were of no concern. This was Adam’s final rotation at the Academy and Genesis’ first and only rotation. There would be no time to get to know one another.

  They were exactly five rotations apart, and she’d started Academy an entire rotation early. This had caused a problem for most of the students there, and the only reason she’d gotten wind of it was because she’d heard the conversation between Adam and her father. There were times when her hearing was an advantage and then other times when it wasn’t of any use to her. She could have done without hearing the comment Adam had made underneath his breath. What did he mean when he said she was a test? She felt paralyzed, her feet unable to take the steps forward to greet Adam. Gen tried to analyze her reaction and inability to approach him, but couldn’t find a valid reason. She wasn’t scared of him. He posed no danger, and even if he wasn’t aware of it, Gen could take him down without a moment’s thought. Gen gave herself an internal pep talk of all the reasons why she would have to get on the back of his lunar bike. One rotation Blackmore and then it’s back to the lab you go.

  “Well,” Adam gestured with his hand. “Bianca is having a fit about me taking you to orientation.” His tone was curt and resentful. Why should she care? She didn’t ask to be escorted, and was willing to make the journey alone.

  Genesis looked the Chancellor’s son over and hesitantly stepped up to the bike. Bianca Treegold’s father was on the Genetics Council and she was Adam’s match. What Gen witnessed of the two as a couple was only on the vid feeds. Bianca was a socialite and she was beautiful and cold. Her skin so pale it looked blue against Adam’s milky complexion. Bianca’s long platinum blond hair hung to her waist in a wall of flowing grace. She looked small and delicate, but she was a force to be reckoned with in socialite clothing, or at least that was what she’d heard via the vid-screens. It was rumored that she’d once had someone banished to Necropolis. A dark planet in the crab nebulae system that was overrun by creatures so dreadful they had no name. If someone were to get on Bianca’s bad side that is where they’d find themselves jumped too. A one-way ticket to the outer rim of their universe, where no rules apply, and only the strongest survived the harshest of living conditions. Being escorted by Adam would definitely earn her a spot on Bianca’s bad side.

  Genesis put on her best smile. Her father had made it clear, she was not to upset the Chancellor’s son.

  “Sorry you had to go through all the trouble of taking me to orientation Adam.” He wasn’t her friend; he wasn’t even a family friend. He was the guy her father commandeered to escort her. Her only confidant had been A.I.

  Genesis pulled her arms through the shoulder straps on her clothes pack and got onto the back of Adam’s lunar bike. The first thing she noticed when she sat on the back of the bike was the smell. Being raised in a sterile environment she wasn’t exposed to a myriad of scents. The exhaust from his bike hid the true scent that lingered in an impenetrable cloud that was uniquely his. This was her first time being this close to any other male aside from her father. His scent burst through with a harsh punch. He smelled tangy and bittersweet like chocolate. It was a combination that made her mouth water and her thighs clench. It was a reaction she wasn’t use to experiencing, and it made her very uncomfortable. Her skin perspired, her tendons gripping.

  “That’s a bit too tight Genesis.” Adam said through clenched teeth. She immediately relaxed and released him. Hands shaking she placed them on her thighs and tried to relax. She was never nervous. Never had a reason to be, but that could be the only explanation. Nerves. It had nothing to do with his smell.

  “Sorry, I’m a bit nervous with it being the first day of Academy.”

  “That’s twice you’ve apologized. Let’s keep your offenses to a minimum and just get you to the assembly hall on time.”

  Adam turned, handing her a pair of lunar glasses. She didn’t need them but she couldn’t tell him that, so she took them and placed them over her eyes. The glasses protected everyone from the cosmic dust build up from the moon. New Earth’s atmosphere was still plagued with particles from space. If a person went without the protective eyewear for long periods of time they would have permanent retinal damage, eventually becoming blind.

  “Wrap your arms around my waist.” Adam said over his shoulder as he adjusted his lunar glasses and eased the bike forward on its stand. “When I lean, you lean with me, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Gen wasn’t prepared for the thrumming of the engine, or her body’s response, when Adam started the engine. She wiggled in the seat and tried to reposition herself in a spot that would cause less friction against her center. She felt like a newborn with all the new stimulation. Working in her father’s lab had severely limited her knowledge of the outside world. She had nothing to reference back to. Her reaction to the bike was instant. The lower part of her body absorbed the vibrations as they travelled through her. Starting at her toes then raking across the nerves beneath her skin. She enjoyed the tremors as the sensation settled pleasantly at the base of her spine. Echoes of the sound bounced back and forth at the juncture between her thighs and tickled parts she wasn’t familiar with.

  “Stop doing that.” Adam growled.

  The bike shot down the drive and into oncoming traffic. There were hover crafts riding alongside them and a public jump station on the corner. Gen catalogued every scent and sound as they drove by. There were even plasma bars attracting their customers with bright neon signs. Things she’d only read about in books, or saw on a vid screen. Taking it all in at one time made her feel too sheltered and naïve, but the life of a scientist was sheltered. They worked indoors for long hours, unless they worked in the field. She worked in her father’s lab from sun up to sun down and half way through the moon’s mid-phase. The last time Gen had gone outside, she was just a child. After that, there was never a reason for her to venture outdoors. Everything she’d ever needed was inside her father’s work room. Going to the Academy felt wrong.

  # # #

  The lunar bike slowed as they approached a large jump station. She could tell from the golden arches that the station was used by council members alone. Jump stations were the easiest mode of transportation as long as you had the credits to use them. Space elevators for the highly elite, her and her father jokingly called them. They could get you from one planet to the next in hyper-seconds. If you couldn’t afford taking the jump stations you would have to take a surge flight. Portals that disassembled your body and put you back together once you reached your intended destination. Bad things sometimes happened in a surge. The electrical field could be unstable, and if there were too many people in one transport, there was a chance they’d come out on the other side, fused together. But over the centuries they had almost perfected the surge, and now the chances were slim. Genesis and her father took a surge once when she was younger. They’d traveled back to her father
’s home planet for his sire’s burial. Even though the planet was void of its blood rivers and weeping trees, some of the oldest Pars still wished to be buried there on their home planet. That trip hadn’t been so bad.

  Adam parked the lunar bike. Gen reluctantly got off as he threw his leg over the side, heading straight for the jump stations credit scanner.

  “We’re jumping?” Gen asked panicked. She couldn’t afford the jump. She barely had enough credits for little things, like supplies. “I can’t afford the jump. I’ll take a surge and hopefully, I’ll make it on time.”

  They’d passed a surge station a few blocks back. She could make it. Gen heard him call her a brainless female as she stepped off the curb but didn’t turn around to correct him. She wasn’t brainless. She was without the means to travel like high society, and that was okay. She’d long ago accepted her role in life. When she was smaller she’d day dreamed about that kind of life, the one she’d only read about. As she matured, her logic took over her dreams and Genesis learned, that living in the now, was better than living in the want. She wasn’t unhappy in her life, quite the opposite, she was grateful for the life she’d been given.