Second Genesis

by Eric Williams

  She tilted her head, she had hoped to come across more personable. “I’m sorry, but, I do have to go over these details.”

  She noticed him fidgeting, he was clearly nervous. She hoped to change the conversation by telling him something recently announced. “I can tell you, that we are working on a synthetic blood substitute called hemonoxin. It's still in the early testing phases, but so far, it seems very promising, and easy to mass produce. Not to mention it has a shelf life of about a year opposed to cloned products.”

  She crossed her arms. “I realize this is a lot to process, but I do need to go over one more thing.” He looked up at her. “I am required to inform you. There are other immortal factions, that, let’s just say are not as pleased with human mingling.”

  Xairin nodded. “Yeah that faction calling themselves the immortal conclave, my new Alpha Ethan Holiday mentioned it before forcing us to do that blood pact crap.”

  She rolled her eyes in a polite manner. “Forcing, well, it's either that or the alternative. Some immortals haven't been pleased with the pact being required, and for that I am sorry. But we can’t take any chances on our enemies getting a foothold in creating immortal armies or bolstering their regimes in any way. I am however glad that Ethan covered it.”

  She looked at Xairin as he tried to keep eye contact. “There are a few groups, the main one we are concerned with is Immortal Conclave. Basically, a mix of several immortal species that, well let's just say, they don’t care for humanity. If you are approached by one of them as they are recruiting, it is your duty to report it as soon as you can. Also, don’t be a hero, they are deadly.”

  She tried to sense his cells, being a grand Alpha, she could sense links and blood pacts that had been performed. She could sense the resistance of Xairin’s cells fighting off Ethan’s. She could tell no other Grand Alpha Vampire had beat her officers to the pacts, so his resistance was strange to her. This caused her to sit back and become perplexed. Given his oddly developed Delta cells she wondered. Is this the beginning of a Grand Alpha in the making I wonder?

  As for Xairin he just sat there oblivious to what she was sensing.

  She nodded while a curious look washed across her face. Xairin was seeming nervous. She knew her gawking at him had to be a little unnerving given the gravity of what registration day meant, freedom to leave for all those who complied. She did feel guilty in fooling the GA, by her people performing pacts before they could on the civs, as for the military personnel, many of them had been exposed to the GA’s Alphas, what they didn’t know, was she had already beaten them to most of their Alphas since she didn’t fully trust Rhymes. She finally continued. “If you will please lean in and look into the retinal scanner so I can take your retina prints, and have you sign this form, we’re good to go.”

  “Are these conclave people that bad?” He asked while tilting his head.

  “Mr. Thunder, I have been around for a long time. One of the oldest vampires you'll ever meet in fact. They are indeed. They delight in thinking themselves superior to the point they will at some point attempt to enslave mankind, especially now that our existence is out of the cave you could say. It's the reason we are registering, so that we can track any Immortium that would join them, as well as know where they are and who they are targeting to recruit. It's the sole reason we jumped ahead of schedule by performing a blood pact with your fellow emerging Immortium. If you would, simply sign, but I must stress, if you are approached, you are instructed to report it. Okay?”

  Xairin nodded and signed a form on a tablet she put in front of him. He then leaned forward and looked down into the green lights. He felt a pressure in his eyes as the laser scanned them. It didn’t hurt, but it was slightly uncomfortable. He leaned back, rubbing them.

  Given something about him stood out to her, and the fact she could sense his cells overcoming the potential blood pact, she was entranced by him. She had to keep this one under her scope, something about him was clearly different. Grand Alpha evolutions were very rare and often only happened to the original immortals which even then, seemed to be few and far between when the animals died. She knew something was special about this one, but she couldn’t place it. She had to keep this one on her radar. “Mr. Thunder, if you need anything. My personal number will be attached to your civ file under your personal contacts list.”

  Xairin frowned. “Are you taking the place of Ethan then?”

  “No, not at all. You will remain in Mr. Holiday’s nest until the day you become an Alpha. Since you drank his blood, the animal that bit you, when it dies, it shouldn’t evolve you now, at least under normal circumstances.” She again looked at him curiously. “I just, well, you remind me of someone, and, knowing what you’ve been through, I can relate to it. If you need someone to talk too that’s, let’s say, not a doctor. I do try to help other vampires as best as I can.” He could tell she was sincere about that. But felt something else around her. He couldn’t quite place it either, maybe it was the fact she reminded him of his mother Cecilia. She couldn’t place the same feeling as well, part of the reason she gave him her personal contact information. There was something about him. Something familiar. She figured it was simply him being another redhead with auburn hair opposed to the lighter shades. That and maybe his resistance.

  _____

  Moving day.

  Xairin had finally received word that his landlord accepted the stipend to get his rent up to date. He was also informed that she could at any time, reject his habitation. There was no word yet on K2, he was wondering if the new handler rejected the request. Either way, he at least had a home to go to now. Just an empty one. He figured without K2 there, he wasn’t quite sure how long he would want to stay there. K2 was the closest thing he had left to his past, without the droid, he felt more vulnerable than ever.

  Every Immortium and Aeonian in the facility was brimming with excitement to finally go home. For the most part, they had all been segregated by species up until now. He had met his first werewolf, his first mer, and a few weredeer created from the ones that escaped the zoo. They kind of creeped him out when he saw one turn in the lunchroom on the upper level.

  Xairin sat in the lunchroom wearing a pink polo with brown shorts and flip flops that had been donated. He had finally gotten around to trying the cloned pigs blood. He had went through four types but ended up finding B- in pigs’ blood tasted the most like human. It would work for now at least if he couldn’t make it on one pint a day with his nutrition rations and was currently slowly sipping a bag.

  Ernie and Ramira were the first to leave Xairin that day. He barely got the chance to say goodbye to either of them. His new-found friend Calvin was packing as he sat there in the lunchroom. Calvin at least gave Xairin a hug before leaving with his wife and kids. It warmed Xairin’s heart to see that take place. They seemed like a loving family.

  Xairin noticed that the droid presence had been increased that day. Hardened HKC droids, fitted with a silver exterior. He even saw one of them protrude a silver spike from its knuckles. He knew they were going to beef up droid details, but that was overkill he thought. The smell of the silver in the air was almost burning some of their nostrils if one of them got too close. Xairin kept his distance.

  He saw a black woman sitting across from him. She had that bad ass, don't mess with me look going on. She had an afro, well-kept that reminded him of some movie he couldn’t place. She was wearing blue jeans, a red shirt, and black shoes. She also wasn’t wearing a smile, the woman seemed pissed at the world.

  The woman kept to herself. Finally, she noticed Xairin look at her. Her painful expression melted away into one that seemed more curious now than anything. She kept tilting her head to the sides, it was almost as if she recognized him. She got up and walked over and plumped right down beside him. Xairin scooted over, the woman intimidated him a little. “Do I know you?” She asked with a thick New York accent.

  Xairin shook his head. “No, I don’t think so.”


  “What’s your name vamp?” She demanded.

  Xairin just looked at her with a frightened frown. “Xairin.”

  The woman crossed her arms and tilted her head. “Was you dead?”

  Xairin seemed put off, and shocked, he also didn’t want to answer verbally so he just shook his head up and down.

  “How long ago?”

  Again, he didn’t want to answer. “Um, can I ask why?”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m an Interpol detective. You look familiar to me. And that name, sounds familiar too. Who are you? What’s your last name?”

  “My last name is Thunder…”

  “Well slap my ass. Xairin Thunder. Your ass got killed over two months, ago right? Some gay basher bashed yo ass into the coroner's office. Am I right?”

  Xairin wasn’t pleased with her choice of words. He frowned, nodded and wanted to walk off. Eventually he did reply. “How did…”

  Before he could finish she blurted out. “My partner and I were working your case before I got sent here to the dog pound. Do you remember who did it? How they did it? Come on vamp I need answers. I’ve been working this case for months up until my ass until the dog catchers pounded my ass here.

  Xairin saw her eyes turn yellow for a second and realized she was a thrope, specifically canine. He hadn’t planned on having to give his statement already and the way she was coming off about it, surely didn’t help his nerves any. “Look, can we talk about this another time? I’m just not ready to relive it right now, okay?”

  She went all Jackie Brown on him, verbally that is. “Listen here you vamp cracker, I’ve been working this case for months. Last time my partner visited me, he said the body count is up to 37 now. You’re the only one that has even seen the twisted sick bastard behind this hate crime bull shit. Now I know I come across a bit gruff, but I need some answers. Now I need you to either tell me what you know right now? Or come by precinct seven and give me that statement, you feel me?”

  Gruff was an understatement in Xairin’s book. “Look, I will tell you the same thing I told Doctor Battle. I only ever saw the one guy, I never saw the others.”

  “What you mean by others? The perp got friends helping? Well shit… I figured as fucking much. Now I need that statement. If you can I.D. just one of them that's a start. Now my partner, he’s a sensitive, just let him read your mind, get a face, and we can send you on your merry way. After you give me a report that is.”

  Xairin shrugged. “Um… well I will, but. Not today ok? I just, I just can’t do it right now.”

  “Did you hear me? I Said, there are 37 others, and they all dead. You’re not. Can you remember the man’s face? At least the one?”

  It never really had occurred to Xairin that there were others. Though after thinking about it, he did recall the tumor comment Greg made. He looked off to the side. “Look, look up my address, come by tomorrow. I just need some time to myself, okay?”

  She rolled her eyes while standing up. “You better believe it. Tomorrow, I will be knocking on yo door right after sunset.”

  Walking away he could hear her mouth continuing. “And you better get yo ass some good sunglasses, that's one thing they didn’t tell you light sensitive vamps about. Yall might not burn up, but that sun gonna hurt your eyes like a toothache.”

  Xairin hadn’t thought about that. The LED lighting above already was a little much at times. He never once considered what sunlight was going to be like. Then it dawned on him, bats hated the light, it's why they were nocturnal, and hunted at night. “Great. Just great. Headaches all over again.” He mumbled.

  He noticed a black man show up and put his arms around the woman that had just spoken to him. He could smell it, he was a canine carrier also. The scent was unmistakable now.

  No one came for Xairin. He kept hoping K2 would walk through those metal doors, and greet him, but he never did. He just sat there, all alone. His friends had left, he had no one. He was going to go home, to no one. He put his left hand on his face and started to weep a little.

  The cafeteria emptied out quickly as Immortium and Aeonians left one by one. Most with eager family members, others with a either a droid, or arranged pickups. Xairin kept hoping that K2 would have been found and assigned, but that was clearly not happening. He knew he had to go to the desk and request an aircab.

  Along the way up a set of painted brown steps, he entered the hospital complex above. He saw others waiting for pick up. He walked up to the counter where a receptionist with a headset was coordinating incoming calls. He tapped on the glass twice before she gave him any attention. “Can I help you sir?”

  “I need to request a ride, an aircab.”

  She seemed like she didn’t want to have a thing to do with him. He could tell she was uncomfortable. His skin was pale after all, and a few purple veins could be seen around his ears and temples. “Name?”

  “Xairin Thunder.”

  “And Mr. Thunder, have you received your new I.D. Card yet?”

  He nodded. “It was issued to all of us this morning before we could be released.

  “The current wait time is two hours sir, you should have reported this earlier. Go and have a seat somewhere, we will call your name on the intercom…”

  Xairin decided to sit in the lobby this time. Took a seat on a wooden polished bench near some indoor plants that had been planted in a white brick raised indoor garden. He crossed his left ankle over his right knee and leaned back, with his small hospital issued duffle bag beside him. His watch was gone, that was confiscated by the police when his body had arrived, as had his phone. All he had, was two outfits that had been donated, and a few pairs of white scrubs he figured he’d keep and use when he worked. He sat there for almost an hour, watching people come in and go out. The smell of blood in the ER caught his nose, he sat there, closed his eyes, and had to mentally will himself to remain seated. The smell was fresh, not like the bagged cloned stuff, but the real deal. It had a stronger scent to it. “Oh god.” He thought. No wonder they asked those questions about cats and relatives.”

  He got up and went back down the steps to the lunch room below. There in the corner was a vending machine, that had pigs blood as an option on E6. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his new I.D. and inserted it in the slot. Pressed E6 and entered the number 2 for amount. Two bottles of the pigs’ blood came rolling out the bottom. It wasn’t B+, it was A-, he didn’t care. He twisted the green top off and chugged the first one down fast. He didn’t care for A blood types, but it had to calm his nerves. The first bottle took the edge off, the second bottle calmed him down. He let out a slight burp as he tossed the plastic containers in the recycling kiosk beside the vending machine and took a deep breath. “Ok… You can do this...” He said to himself.

  Seeing Xairin standing there all alone, Doctor Battle walked up, and pat him on the back. “You ok Mr. Thunder?”

  Xairin turned around right as his eyes turned red. “I’m just a little frustrated. I hoped my droid would have been found and come to get me, but, it looks like I’m having to take an Aircab.”

  “Aircab huh? I hear that wait is kind of crazy today.”

  Xairin turned around and got another bottle of the A+ while mentioning. “Yep, that's what the lady upstairs told me. A two hour wait time. Also, is it true I need sunglasses?”

  Doctor Battle nodded. “Some do seem to be highly photosensitive, others not so much. Given that an albino bit you, it's possible.”

  “That would have been nice to have had a warning. Good thing it's night time I guess.” Xairin said while sipping the third bottle.

  “You know... I could arrange for a ride for you, that could be quicker than waiting on an Aircab. Unless you want to hang around?”

  Xairin exhaled and looked the man in the eyes. “I don’t mind the wait, besides it's going to be a droid driver, so no worries about them being rude. Thanks for the offer though.”

  Aaron raised an eyebrow. “It's really no big deal.”


  Xairin crossed his arms while his red eyes looked at the Doctor. He could see the man’s aura, the blood inside his veins flowing far more vibrantly than those around him. His veins seemed to glow white, where others, he could see red, with the exception of a vampire that walked past him, their veins had a darker tint flowing inside them. Xairin looked at the man again, his jaw dropped, showing off his elongated lateral incisors and canines. “It's… ok… Really, um, it's no big deal for me to wait…”

  Xairin walked off while thinking about what he had just seen. He looked around the room and noticed others. Each one, had different Auras. Canines seemed to have an orangish glow in their veins, vampires almost black. Humans, there was no glow at all. Xairin knew right then that Doctor Battle had to be something else… An Aeonian. His aura gave it away… The thing that bothered Xairin, was why could he see it now, and the others couldn’t? Was it the albino trait that made his eyes more sensitive? None of his other vampiric friends ever talked about it. Or was it something else he wondered.