Second Genesis

by Eric Williams

  Xairin kept laughing and crying all at once. “Vampire? Really? Vampire? What’s next? Turning into a bat?”

  Aaron scoffed, “Once you begin feeding, you’ll enter this embryonic state where your body finishes its transformation. You will have wings Mr. Thunder. Wings that you can hide within flaps that will develop around your shoulder blades.”

  Xairin kept laughing. “Nice trick man, nice trick, god, WAKE UP XAIRIN, WAKE THE FUCK UP!” He cried out as he thrust his torso forward trying to free himself.

  Aaron crossed his arms as he stood up. “CALM DOWN!” Xairin stopped moving. “I will come back when you’re more compliant with what I’m telling you. Until then, I will have a medical droid come by to bring you something to drink. Maybe then, you’ll begin coming to terms with your condition.”

  Doctor Battle got up and walked out quickly, shutting the door behind him as it sealed at the bottom. Xairin was left to only his thoughts. “LET ME GO!” He cried out. No one answered. All Xairin could do was remain confined at an angle.

  _____

  The meeting room..

  A large oval shaped room in Site 8, had a long square table with black oval shaped chairs. Nine to be exact. Aaron was sitting at the head, awaiting seven others to arrive. Sophie was the first to enter, followed by Grand General Rhymes. Trevor was next, along with Miss Eastwick, and a few other Prime ministers. The last to enter was a radiant red headed woman wearing a gray business suit with a knee-high skirt and black high heel shoes. Her red curls bounced as she walked into the room, carrying a briefcase at her side. She sat down elegantly beside Trevor.

  Rhymes crossed his arms. He hadn’t been in the same room as Lillian before. He was uneasy. “Is it necessary to have her present?” He said gruffly.

  Lillian crossed her arms. “It's nice to finally meet you too Grand General Rhymes.”

  Lillian looked around the room and tilted her head. “It's a pleasure to see most of you again.”

  Trevor announced her. “This is Miss Lillian Rutherford, our Immortium liaison.”

  Most in the room that hadn’t met her already seemed distant. Rhymes of course was the exception, he just snarled.

  Sophie was dressed in her usual white robes with a global emblem across the left breast. “Doctor Battle, we are nearing sixty-four days since the infection began. I haven’t seen any reports downloaded to central intelligence as of late pertaining to the reanimated. How are things progressing?”

  Aaron took a sip of water and started his debriefing. “Twelve patients were selected. Each of the twelve patients have resurrected with full physical acclimation, but mental disorientation seems to be the primary obstacle we’re overcoming. Most have memory loss, but that seems to be improving once they’ve fed for the first time. I would expect, once they’ve gained enough caloric intake, we will see additional phases begin to manifest, such as the embryonic phase. Two of our twelve resurrected have already began losing teeth, while the others are still in a little bit of shock.”

  Aaron looked at Lillian. She had a curious look on her face. She was studying him before she took the que. “Miss Rutherford, do you have any intel pertaining to what we can expect?”

  Her voice came across flirtingly, friendly. “I have reviewed your data. I must say, I’m quite impressed in the amount of secrets you’ve unlocked Doctor Battle. As to the situation of those resurging as we say, yes I do have intel.” She got up and sat on the side of the table with her body turned facing the group. “When Alphas and Betas bite, at will, they can choose to assimilate a human or simply just feed, depending on the species of course. I would assume for those infected by an animal, it's no different, other than the fact all animals seemingly have these glands and no true Alpha morphology taking place until human beings are involved. The animals carrying these original strains, seem to follow what we know about our own biology. As long as the heart and brain are intact at the time of death when the assimilation glands release their cells, the bodies will regenerate. Normally this process takes inside twenty-four hours before resurgences occur. After that, normal morphology continues. Inside seven days, transformations complete themselves and the individual emerges typically as an Omega, and sometimes higher up depending on the Alpha’s will. Since these individuals have been bitten by what I am calling, source creatures, it's hard to tell what they will emerge as. Omega, Delta, Beta, and even Alphas in cases where the animal was destroyed.”

  She adjusted her legs, crossing them, “Most who resurge always have some memory loss in the beginning. That normally wanes with their first kill, or in this case, their first meal. In the old days, we usually had a slaughtered cow on hand or a pig. Their blood seemed to do just fine when getting our Omega’s to develop quickly. The same is with other immortals, their first feeding, always sets off the final stages of development.”

  Sophie looked at her tablet. “Just how many species of immortal are there Miss Rutherford?”

  Ninlil smiled. “Quite a few. They’re grouped into categories. The Aeonians were essentially deities, or so we thought. Vampires obviously and various types of thropes, werewolves, werecats, minotaurs, etc. belonged to the Immortium classifications. Then there are the mer, your aquatic races. Lastly... The gorgon, which consist of any type of reptilian immortal. Which I will add, were unpredictable in assuming predictable traits. Your good Doctor, Doctor Battle allowed us to borrow some of his geneticists to confirm a few biological facts in that matter. Warm blooded creatures have specific traits to expect. Cold blooded creatures however, do not. But... Rest assured, silver is the weapon of choice against those who would harm humanity.”

  She smiled at Aaron while playfully tilting her head. “How soon do you plan on preparing to resurrect the others now that these twelve appear to be doing just fine?”

  Rhymes interrupted before Aaron could answer. “That is up to this body Miss Rutherford, not Doctor Battle.”

  “I see…” She grinned.

  Rhymes looked at Aaron. He was reading from his tablet. The specific report he was looking over was given by Lillian herself, giving some details about what you immortals can really do. “Doctor Battle, have you been able to substantiate the Grand Alpha’s details in what they’re truly capable of?”

  Aaron nodded. “Electrocytes, are cells that are specific to a rather unique animal known as the electric eel. So far, all immortals we have seen, regardless of species, have the same thing. Every Aeonian and Immortium we have examined has helped us confirm this. Some of them, can use these advanced versions of electrolytes to generate bioelectric fields that allows them to bend light, rendering them invisible. Others can harness this bio electrical current to perform a wide variety of psychic abilities, in vampires, their biosonar they inherited from bats seem to amplify psychic phenomena. Some of them can even harness it to such a degree, they can shift their bodies into some interdimensional phased state, allowing them to walk through walls, and apparently teleport to some degree.” He looked around the room. “Everything she has given in this report, so far has been substantiated. Several Aeonians have come forward alongside the Immortium, that follow her lead, and have allowed us to examine them.” He eyed each person in the room. “They are cooperating with us.”

  Lillian smiled, “Being able to walk through a solid structure, we call it Phase Walking. All one needs to perform this feat is to understand everything is made up of energy. You simply attune your own vibrational frequency, and before you know it, you can accomplish a great many things.”

  Aaron proceeded. “We already know they can regenerate, and most have inhuman strength and reflexes. As far as we know, silver and a few herbs in her report can subdue them. Wolfsbane for example, but garlic is useless other than the smell affecting their heightened olfactory glands…” He took a breath. “We’ve confirmed that Omegas, Deltas, Betas, and Alphas, have different cellular advancements, muscle density making each classification stronger, and their abilities seem heightened in comparison to the ranks. We’ve als
o confirmed that shape shifting is completely possible, given their unique metamorphic bone structure. Also, that energy field that some of them can produce, seems to affect not only the ability to phase walk as Miss Rutherford puts it, but also allows them to temporarily phase clothing and carried items while certain transformations occur. Namely we have seen a few vampires able to turn into large predatory bats, apparently that legend is true. Werewolves, same thing, werecats, can do the same thing. And... This reptilian group we managed to thwart from attacking Site 88 in Egypt, thanks of course to Lillian’s vampires, should similar abilities. He said while looking at her. “These reptilians were a challenge. We couldn't have done without their aid.”

  Sophie looked at Lillian. “Why are these... Gorgon, so different?”

  Lillian shrugged. “They’ve always been aggressive. With the exception of a few gargoyle nests, most of them loathe humans. But... Gargoyles tend to be, rather... Strong. Piss them off, and they can be a rather interesting enemy. They're like ants. Two nests normally don’t agree with one another. Not to mention, they regenerate quicker than most immortals, making them hard to kill. Silver poisoning will do it, but you have to sever the head to be sure.”

  Aaron looked at his tablet and continued scrolling. “In continuing our findings, weather manipulation is apparently a real thing. The bioelectrical fields they can manifest from their alienized electrocytes can affect several things, even at the molecular and atomic level. Speeding up the vibrations in atoms in the air to increase heat, just like level 8 sensitives can perform pyrokinesis. Only with these guys, it's far more advanced. An immortal having the mental capacity to control the very atomic structure of things, can not only phase walk, but effect weather to a degree. One of our test subjects managed to create a small category 1 tornado. Abilities of this caliber seem to be a Beta or Alpha thing.”

  Aaron continued. “In respect to her Thrall claim. We did expose six terminally ill convicts to different Immortium blood types along with an Aeonian sample. When either blood type entered the human system, they go for the adipose tissue much like the cells produced in the heart do. There they absorb the patient’s fat cells and convert them into a very potent form of stem cell specific to the human exposed. These thrall cells as Lillian calls them, develop from the fat cells which are converted into a compatible human variety, that not only regenerates the human exposed, but enhances them to some degree. They’re stronger, faster, but not like the immortal that gave the sample And... As she suggested it would, Thrall cells are specific to that host only, and in every lab study we have performed, we have effectively cured every disease we have exposed them too with the exception of Mellitus-32. However, while the thralls are susceptible to Mellitus-32, Aeonians and Immortium are immune... In the past few days I have witnessed these thrall cells become highly adaptable CD4 cells, that seek out most known cancers, bacteria and viruses. These patients are in full remission, and I will also add, seemingly are 10 to 15 years younger after two or three days.” Aaron drank another sip of water. “Another element in her report that has been verified is that these cells allow a telepathic link between the Aeonian donor and the human.”

  Sophie looked at Aaron. “You said they all are immune to Mellitus-32?”

  He nodded. “We infected an inmate with the virus. After five days, when the patient was nearing expiration, we injected him with assimilation cells from a Mer. His newly formed Immortium cells began fighting the virus. Seven days later, he was not only a new Mer, but Mellitus-32 free. Their immune system can truly handle anything. Radiation, viruses, bacteria, cancer, all of it, Except silver and a few plant enzymes of course.”

  Aaron continued reading what he had been able to substantiate. “Moving on to the subject of half breeds. Miss Rutherford had two half vampires come forward. They call them Dhampirs. They’re not as strong as a full vampire, and so far, we've seen no evidence in them being able to become full vampire as they’re immune to the assimilation cells, as are dumplings which are the offspring of a dhampir and human. They also lack assimilation glands. She’s also confirmed other half breeds following the same biology. Apparently, Hercules was actually real.”

  Some in the room gasped.

  He looked at the others. “On the flip side, cross breeding among Aeonians and the Immortium have proven incompatible as her report stated. No half vampire and half werewolf offspring, no hybrids. Their anatomy is incompatible with other immortal species. Only humans, paired with an Immortium or Aeonian can produce a halfling.”

  Lillian nodded. “Half breeds among our kind were often frowned upon. Most never inherit full immortality and simply age much slower than a human would. Often leaving an immortal parent to inevitably watch their halfling child grow old and die. I myself tried to sire one of my halfling sons.” She seemed to distance herself as she continued. “Finding out you couldn’t spare your own child from death. Was. Well you lose a child and see how you feel.”

  Zelda looked over at Lillian. “Some Greek mythology depicted demigods becoming gods through ascension, so this isn’t accurate?”

  Lillian shook her head. “There were a few scarce rumors of a halfling becoming something more. I remember hearing tales of the fountain of youth being part of it. Another rumor was the source of creation itself infusing the halfling. In theory, perhaps, a source creature for example. As for the fountain of youth, they were nothing more than likely subterranean pockets where ASV1 had remained secured from UV exposure.” She looked at each face. “After seven thousand years, I’ve never met an immortal that used to be a half breed that could be substantiated in these rumored ascensions. Otherwise, it could have sparked some immortal war again.”

  “The fountain of youth?” General Aswick asked.

  Lillian nodded. “I’ve never seen one, but I can only conclude that it was likely an underground pool with ASV1 in the water like I mentioned.”

  She continued. “As for half breeds, often they would be killed by various factions once they discovered their existence since they were more human and tended to further dilute the line. Some loathed their immortal parent for condemning them to death since they could never become immortal. Olympians were the most notorious for creating half breeds and used their so-called demigod offspring to wage wars on other immortals. Given they couldn’t be assimilated, they would task them with eradicating monsters, dragons for example.” She looked at Rhymes. “Once the half breed completed their task, often their reward was death. Diluting the blood is believed to be a sin among many of the zealots practicing various Aeonian or Immortium dogmas. The Society of Night however opposes the destruction of such children. Given that Immortium and Aeonian life has bloomed thanks in part to the comet, half bred children and grandchildren will come into existence far more frequently now. The society feels all life is precious. They will need protection from immortals with lesser ideology.”

  Aaron continued to confirm. “She’s also right about her Ghoul claim. Injecting assimilation cells into a body that didn’t die from one of the animal attacks or didn’t die from some Immortium feeding produces something else. We injected four bodies, each one with a different variation of assimilation cells. We chose four corpses donated from a medical institute that were originally destined for gross anatomy.” He looked at the Grand General. “Lillian is right Grand General Rhymes, this is where your Zombie troubles do arise. Only immortals refer to them as ghouls. Each body resurrected despite the strain. Each one, grew hungry, and developed Beta like status, developing assimilation glands of their own. They were… Aggressive. It was like a zombie movie in real life. They had to be destroyed.”

  Lillian spoke up. “One of our reasons for coming forward so quickly. Immortium, these new ones created by the comet need to know about such things, that way they don't attempt to create such creatures. The Society of Night will be enforcing these laws, and expressing these teachings to those who belong to our new Order so that they know the dangers of trying to bring back the dead, and severa
l other rules that we will develop alongside your world government... We must work together to maintain an order that based on human trust will warrant an ironclad agreement in working side by side, to assure both humanity, and immortal can live peacefully.”

  Lillian got up slowly, taking care not to startle anyone. “I have honored my deal with this world organization. I have given you a list of herbs that are just as effective as silver at killing us and slowing down the infection should unwanted infections take place. Now. You have, according to the reports, some three hundred thousand in cryogenic stasis waiting to be reunited with their loved ones. Regardless of the species, they will be who they were, just… well… No longer human.”

  Lillian walked slowly around the room. “We came to you of our own free will to accept the promise of peace. As promised I have pledged myself to divulging every Aeonian and Immortium secret I have ever learned about my own race, as well as the others. These people have loved ones waiting. We went public announcing that their very loved ones, ripped violently from them, could once again come home, with a change of diet of course. Now… I have held up my end of this bargain, I would trust this body to do the same.”