by Aaron Denius
I’m shocked. I expected to be yelled at.
“However,” he continues, “you must understand that you cannot do this alone, and you need to make sure that you all come together as a group. You will need to work together to survive, and if any of them don’t respect you, it will be difficult.
“I’m sorry Titan has been a challenge. As much as we can manipulate your genes, we cannot do anything about your personality and demeanor. This is what makes you all so unique.”
“I understand,” I say as I process what he’s told me. Deep down, I know Rene is right, but I hate the idea of having to make amends with Titan, and I know it won’t be easy. As much as he hated me before, he must detest me now.
“Be a leader, Atom. Not a dictator.” He lies down in his bed.
His words resonate deep within me. Through all the lessons I’ve had, and books that I have read, not one dictator was looked at favorably. “I will.”
Though the mask covers most of his face, I can tell by his eyes that he is smiling at me. “You can see your way back.”
I stand and walk to the door, looking back at him before I leave. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear he was already asleep. I can’t imagine the stress he must suffer from with running this compound.
I slow down as I pass the room with the monitors, trying to see as much as I can, part of me hoping that I might catch a glimpse of Grant or 80 on one of the screens. No such luck. Exhaustion has begun to creep through me, so I choose not to linger any longer and head back to my bedroom.
Thankfully the hallways are empty, so I can walk back without a detour. After a quick shower, I crawl into bed with the envelope Grant left me. The plastic feels smooth in my fingers. Unsure of what I might find, I pull out the contents.
The first sheet I see is a list of simulations—the jungle, a city, and the desert, among others. One of them stands out to me and sends a chill through my spine. I reread it to make sure I saw it correctly. ‘Dead bodies.’ I’m too tired to think much of it, but I know Grant would not have added it if he didn’t believe it was important.
The second sheet is a list of instructions on how to enter the simulations. It also includes instructions on something titled ‘Hologram Battles.’ There isn’t anything indicating what those might be.
The last sheet is addressed to me and is written like a formal letter. As I read it, a gambit of emotions compete for my attention. I feel pain, anger, and fear, but mostly shock and betrayal.
*****
Atom,
I write you this note knowing that what is in it you will keep to yourself. There are certain things that you need to know that are best not shared with others, including Rene.
First, let me address the hologram battles. I was working on a program that would allow you and the others to fight against holographic foes. Though there might still be a couple of glitches, it will still operate and will give you all the opportunity to work together as a team.
As you know, I was in charge of security at the compound. Most of my time was spent making sure that the drones were adequately trained and that everyone within the walls remained safe from the outsiders’ threat. We monitored everything from the surveillance room you followed me into.
I spent so much time looking outside those walls that I failed to see what was right underneath my nose. In the last couple of weeks, before I shipped out, I heard whispers of a cell of scientists who intend on sabotaging the plan. Rene was not informed of this because he would most likely try to confront the scientists, driving them deeper into the shadows.
Unfortunately, I did not have enough time to find out who these people were. I don’t want you to search for them. What I want is for you to be prepared. You might have to fight people you have come to trust, so stay strong and remember that your and the Genesys’ survival is the top priority.
I wish I had more time to flush out the cell, but these weapons need to be activated as soon as possible. I trust that you will succeed, and I know deep down that what we are doing is in humanity’s best interests. Take care of yourself, Atom.
I’m glad to have known you.
Grant
CHAPTER IX
The next few days, I just work with the Genesys on mastering the different weapons and hand-to-hand combat. I can tell that a few of them are getting impatient, but I don’t want to move on without Titan. As much as I don’t like him, my talk with Rene has made me realize the importance of having everyone on the same page.
Sleep has pretty much left my schedule. The added responsibility and Grant’s letter have made it so that my mind won’t shut off. I head to the library roof instead of my room at night, and I welcome Cal and Al’s company.
We mostly talk about the training and the information that Ev has been teaching them. Cal attempted to talk about Titan, but I quickly steered him off subject, letting him know not to bring it up again.
Tonight, though, our conversation is about something completely different, and I’m not sure how comfortable I feel about it. My body has been put on alert because the brisk air has given me goosebumps.
“Well, Al, I think it’s pretty obvious that you and Hydro are hitting it off,” Cal says. “Don’t you agree, Atom?”
“I guess,” I mutter, trying to fake disinterest. It is true, though. Al and Hydro have been virtually inseparable since I first met them.
“Yeah. Well, what about you, Cal? Who do you have your eye on?” Al asks, not denying his interest in Hydro.
“I don’t know. I guess I think K is cute,” Cal replies as he drops his head in slight embarrassment.
“Really?” Al pries.
“Her hair is really cool,” I add.
“Yeah, but Cal knows nothing about her. I’ve never even seen him talk to her,” Al blurts out.
“So, I still think she’s cute,” Cal says as he turns to look at me. “What about you, Atom?”
I really don’t want to answer this question. Images of both Ev and Fe pop into my head. How am I supposed to decide?
“Don’t be dumb, Cal. You know that he and Ev were created to be together. Just like in that book we read,” Al declares.
“That’s just a story. Besides, I’ve seen him look at Fe.” Cal pokes me. His confession makes me turn bright red with embarrassment.
“So which one is it, buddy?” Al shifts his body around to look at me.
I look around, hoping for a way to not have to answer. I wish for a distraction, and it’s granted as a body comes through the door to the roof. Unfortunately, it only leads to further embarrassment as Hydro makes her way through, followed close behind by Fe.
I have tried really hard not to show any bias to either Ev or Fe, but without Ev around, I find myself staring.
“Hey fellas!” Hydro stands up on the roof.
“I hope you don’t mind that I invited them up here.” Al looks at me.
“It’s fine.” This place no longer feels like my sanctuary anyway.
“What’s that?” Fe points off into the distance. Without looking, I know what she is asking about.
“That’s the Great Pyramid of Giza,” I say proudly.
“The one we read about?” she asks, her eyes growing wide with wonder.
“The very same.” I smile as I recognize the same emotions I felt when I saw it within her. For a moment, it’s just the two of us on the roof. The crisp breeze has stopped as if we are standing in a cocoon of warmth. I want to reach out to her and hold her.
“So this is what you do every night?” Hydro looks around. Her question snaps me out of my trance.
“Yeah. We pretty much sit up here and talk.” Cal scoots over, having not stood up when the girls arrived. There was barely enough room when it was just the three of us, so now we scrunch together. Al and Hydro cozy up as he puts his arm around her, and Fe sits between Cal and me.
“What was the worst part about being out there, Atom?” Hydro speaks up.
Many things pop into my head at once. The filt
h, the hatred toward us, being shot—but one thing has always made my stomach turn. I’ve tried hard to push the images out of my head, but Grant’s simulation list brought it all back. “The dead bodies.”
I look away, but I can sense all their heads turn to me. I have usually been pretty candid with Cal and Al. This, however, is much more than they have gotten before. I don’t know why I suddenly feel comfortable talking about it. Maybe it’s because of Fe, but I can already feel a weight lifting.
They all look at me, anticipating my next words. With my sights set on the top of the Great Pyramid, I speak. “They just make piles of them on the outside of the city. There were also a lot in the middle of the streets. The smell stings your nose, but the sight of the rotting flesh is something you will never forget.
“When I snuck out there, I had to strip one of the bodies and wear its clothes. I still feel it on my skin sometimes, the death. The outsiders struggle so hard to survive, and yet they have no respect for a life lost. I would say they aren’t worthy of survival, but they are no better in this compound. They used to discard injured drones like they were finished protein pouches.
“What’s worse is that none of it matters. In a few months, all those who are living will join their former friends on the streets. We will be all that is left, and we will have to make our way through the layer of corpses that will line the earth, to hopefully start something better than what we left behind.”
Instantly I regret having spoken my mind, but it’s done. Minutes pass without anyone saying a word. If it weren’t for the sound of their breathing, I would have thought they had left. Part of me wishes they had. I feel this might have been too much for them to handle, though I am glad to have gotten it out of my mind. I no longer carry that burden alone.
“That kind of sucks,” Al exhales. We all look at him, and the tension is lifted as he laughs and the rest of us join in.
The laughter turns to shivers as the wind picks up. We use it as our cue to head back downstairs and to our rooms. The second my head hits the pillow, I fall into the deepest of sleep.
I wake up the most rested I can remember. My body feels relaxed, and my mind is focused. Even knowing that I need to visit Titan because he is being released isn’t affecting me.
The next training session is in a couple of hours, so I head to the medical ward after a warm shower. The hallways are mostly empty as I make my way. I internally question the motive of every scientist I pass. Even though Grant said I shouldn’t concern myself with finding the group of scientists that plan to stop us, my curiosity is winning out.
As I enter the medical ward, I see Dennis, the same doctor that helped Rene, do some final tests on Titan’s arm. Titan turns his head toward me, and I see the disgust on his face. Though I can justify what I did, I am sickened by the fact that I did it. I would never have expected such malice to come from me.
I walk into the room while Dennis is still in there to keep the tension low.
“Morning, Atom,” Dennis says without looking up.
“Morning. Hey Titan.” I’m not expecting much of a response, and sure enough, he rolls his eyes at me.
“You’re good to go, Titan. Your arm is back to about 95 percent, just be careful with it for a couple of days.” Dennis puts his tools away and walks out, leaving the two of us alone.
“I’m sorry.” I genuinely mean it.
“I would have done the same.” He avoids eye contact. Still, I can’t believe he just said that. I don’t know how to respond.
We both look up as we hear a small commotion outside the room. On the far end of the medical ward, Brianna is yelling at Hawk. Both of them appear red with anger. Hawk tries to get a word in, but Brianna won’t let him.
I walk to the door of the room and poke my head out to see if I can hear anything they are saying, but the second I do, an older woman walks up to them, and they get quiet. The woman is tall and slightly overweight. Her hair is a sharp black, which allows the many white hairs she has to stand out. She is obviously older than both Brianna and Hawk.
The woman points over in my direction and says something quietly to the two of them, causing them to look over. Without saying a word to us, they walk out of the medical ward.
“What do you think that was about?” Titan asks. I didn’t notice that he walked to the door with me.
“I have no idea, and I don’t know who the other woman was.” I try hard to place her face, but I don’t recall seeing her anywhere. Not even while passing in the hallways.
“So what now?” Titan rubs his arm.
I begin to walk toward the hallway. “I want to catch you up on the weapons training. We are doing the first simulation today, and I want to make sure that you’re on the same page as all the others. You learn fast, so I don’t think it will take long.”
He jogs to catch up to me, and I see a smile on his face. I walk quickly to the elevators that will take us to the simulation room. Neither of us says a word to each other.
Titan eventually breaks the silence. “I want to focus on close combat, like knives and hand to hand. I’m already pretty good with the guns, so we can skip that.”
His arrogance is something that I will have to get used to, but he’s right. Still, he needs to remember that I was put in charge. “Titan, if this is going to work, you are going to have to listen to me and do as I say.”
“Why?” he asks as he leaves the elevator and walks to the center of the room.
“Because they put me in charge.” I ball my fists in anger as I follow to the center of the room.
Titan turns to face me. “Are you better than I am?”
All I want to do is scream ‘yes’ in his face, but I know it’s not true. We were created from the same mold. I take a deep breath to calm myself down. “No, I’m not, but I have been around longer, and I have more experience. So I will leave it up to you. I can leave you down here alone, and you can try to figure it all out for yourself, or you can let me teach you what I know.”
I stare at him as he processes his options. I’m about to turn to walk away when he speaks. “Wait. I’m sorry. I’ll listen.”
I turn back and head straight for the weapons. I start Titan off like I did before, on the knives. Then we move toward the longer handheld weapons. We don’t really speak to one another. I just explain, and he listens. As I anticipated, he picks up on everything quickly. With a few more days of practice, he could be as good as I am.
I check the time and see that we have about ten minutes before the rest of the group arrives, so I use the little time we have left to give him some pointers on hand-to-hand combat.
I square up to him. “The first thing to know is that you never attack. You counter. A smart fighter studies his opponent.”
“That’s why you wouldn’t fight me?” he pries.
“Exactly. I was looking for your patterns. All fighters have patterns. What hand they lead with, how many punches per combo, whether they always charge, and so forth. Once you know a fighter’s pattern, you can anticipate and counter.” I reach for his arm, and he flinches. “I won’t do anything, just going to show you a counter.”
I grab the arm I broke and gently pull it toward me as if it were a punch. “When someone throws a punch, you roll into it. Never away. By rolling into it, you are taking both of your opponent’s arms out of the equation.”
I roll off his arm and slowly move a fist toward his face. I stop right as my knuckles touch his cheek.
“That makes sense.” He pulls his arm away.
Just then, the elevator doors open, spitting out the first of the Genesys. We both look toward the incoming group.
Titan walks over to greet them as they see that he has recovered, but before he gets too far, he turns. “Thanks.”
“No problem. Let me know if you want any more one on one training.” I watch him as he turns back to the groups. Cal keeps his distance but remains close to the group. I’m glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t like Titan.
&
nbsp; I walk over to the control panel, and by the time I reach it, Ev has caught up to me.
“What are we doing today?” she asks.
“First simulation. You and I will pick teams, and we will be using the longer handheld weapons.” I begin to enter codes into the panel.
“What’s the simulation?” She looks over my shoulder at what I’m entering. Before I can answer, the room begins to change into a dark and dense forest.
“The one we slept in before.” I smile at her, and she smiles back.
We both look at the group that has gathered in the center of the room. They are all looking around in wonder. The blizzard simulation we had before wasn’t very detailed, so this is without a doubt an inspiring sight.
“I choose Ox,” Ev says. Her face is as intense as I have ever seen it. She’s out to win, and she made a brilliant choice with Ox.
I want speed and quickness. “Cal.”
“Hydro,” she says without hesitation.
“Al.” I hate to split him and Hydro up, but I know that I can trust him to do what I ask.
“Titan,” she sneers. I’m surprised by the pick, but I instantly understand her strategy. She knows that he will do all he can to beat me.
“Fe.” I’m happy to get her on my team, but the pick was made because of her skill.
“Mag,” Ev exhales. I can tell she’s not too happy about this pick. Mag has been one of the slowest to develop, but Ev picked her because they are friends.
The group walks toward us, so I finish the picks to even out the teams. “You take Sil, and I will take Sodi and K.”
“Fine.” She turns to the group. “Ox, Mag, Hydro, Sil, and Titan, step over here.”
“The rest will be on my team.” I turn back to the control panel and hit a couple of buttons. A sliding door opens up on the wall, revealing the cache of weapons. They all look real, but none of them are lethal. They just might leave a bruise or two. “Everyone pick a weapon. Ev, take your team to the opposite side. I will set the countdown to ten minutes.”