“But…what if that changes?”
“Hope that you’re gone before that happens,” Veronica told Sean sadly.
“You really think they’re going to fight back?”
“I am certain of it.”
“Ah, Miss Harris,” Dana called, seeing her round the corner to the second row of elevators. “Excellent, you’re right on time.”
“Mr. Christenson,” she greeted, allowing him to kiss her hand. “Miss Sandover.”
“Miss Harris,” Lily returned the greeting, her bright golden eyes unwavering on the older woman. Veronica did not feel uncomfortable with the leaders of the Commission of the People. She knew she was more powerful than they were, and that allowed her to brush off their intimidation tactics, but that did not make her any more at ease.
“We’ve loaded everyone up,” Lily declared. “Even the little ones. We’re about to go.”
“Wonderful,” Veronica forced a smile. “Do you mind if we share a car?”
“Mind? Of course not,” Lily grinned, brightening up immediately at the thought of having Miss Harris cornered. Over a year of working with the mysterious woman and she had yet to learn anything about her. She thought that she would be able to learn about Veronica’s background and her family, but Veronica gave nothing.
It was as if she had appeared out of nowhere.
Dana was not as pleased with riding in the car with Veronica. He had been just as eager as Lily when he first began to dance around Veronica Harris. However, he had used every trick that had ever worked for him, and nothing swayed the woman. It was also not uncommon that he would look at Veronica and find himself legitimately afraid of her.
He had not been afraid in so long that the feeling frightened him just as much as she did.
Dana was now very wary of Miss Veronica Harris. The younger Lily was bolder and not as fearful as the older and calmer Dana.
The three of them got into the limo and Sean slid into the driver’s seat, pressing some buttons in the car to bring the car to the surface streets.
“How was France, Miss Harris?” Lily asked, striking up conversation.
“Beautiful,” Veronica said, noticing how Lily moved to her section of seating in the limo while Dana had remained where he was.
Veronica had also noticed the change in Dana. He was the older animal, no longer curious about things that could hurt him. He knew that when something felt as dangerous as Veronica, it was best to stay away. He had tried to warn Lily before, but she could not be swayed.
“What were you doing in France?” Dana asked.
“I had a meeting with the president,” Veronica explained. “I told her I was coming to finally transfer the D.E.M.O.N.s to their facility and she said she’s very excited to see the progress we make.”
“Is she upset about the time it took?”
“Not at all,” Veronica answered Dana’s question. “A year is not so long, really. Everyone has been convinced that it is a good idea to test them before we continue mass-production.”
“I apologize for the scheduling,” Dana chuckled, his eyes flicking to Lily, who was slowly inching closer to Veronica with every turn of the car. “You must be exhausted, flying in from France and then coming directly here.”
Veronica laughed lightly.
“Like you, Mr. Christenson, and most other politicians, I do not sleep.” She smiled. “Thank you for your concern, but I am not tired.”
“You never sleep?” Lily asked skeptically.
Veronica just smiled mysteriously.
“I notice that you don’t travel with security guards,” Sean pointed out from the front seat, breaking the awkward silence. “Is that wise?”
“I am not well-known enough to be a target,” Veronica said, brushing away the question.
“We used to have a spectacular experiment security unit, but the surviving ones are all in other countries,” Dana shrugged. “Otherwise I would have insisted you purchase some for your own protection.”
“Oh, you are too kind,” Veronica forced herself to say. “But I assure you, my safety is not something to be concerned about.”
“Well, it would be a shame to have something happen to such a beautiful woman,” Lily smiled. “And especially so young. You don’t look a day over twenty-five.”
“Thank you, Miss Sandover,” Veronica smiled politely, even as Lily began running her fingers up and down Veronica’s arm, gently moving the fabric of the blouse, trying to be as discreet as possible…to the older woman, it felt like Lily was shaving the skin off her arm. She chose to ignore it, settling herself easily.
“If you don’t mind me asking, Miss Harris, how old are you?” Lily pressed. Veronica was silent for a moment, her eyes blinking slowly as she decided how to answer.
“I’m much older than I look,” she finally said.
“I would assume, considering that you have the personal funds to throw into this project. You must have had time to amass your wealth.”
“I come from old money.” Veronica smiled. “Very old money…”
The car was silent for four turns leading to the freeway. Finally, Dana spoke, first calling Lily to come back to his side, which she obeyed.
“You must have heard the news about the Altereye Team.” Dana tried to strike up conversation.
“I did.”
“They will be doing some exploration before starting their seven-year journey back,” Dana explained. “Imagine, finding a planet like earth, with similar atmosphere composition, water, even animals.”
“It’s not so difficult to believe,” Veronica shrugged. “The universe is a large place. Presuming to be alone in something so vast is self-centered, wouldn’t you agree?”
“No humans have been found, yet,” Lily challenged.
“Yet,” Veronica repeated. “And animals prove evolution, which means that, eventually, a highly-intelligent life form would come into existence.”
“You believe in aliens and extraterrestrial life forms?” Dana teased.
“I believe in a lot of things that would sound strange to you,” Veronica admitted. “Aliens is not one of them.”
“But you believe in other intelligent life,” Lily pointed out.
“I believe in evolution into a bipedal, ‘intelligent’ life form evolving with opposable thumbs across the universe,” Veronica said.
“But nothing besides humans?”
“In evolution, no.”
“Why not?”
“Because humans stop their own processes,” Veronica explained. “They make everything evolve around them. Their further evolution comes from the things they create.” She fixed the two with a hard stare. “Like the D.E.M.O.N.”
“Well, one could argue that the D.E.M.O.N. is just a higher evolution of a human,” Lily chuckled.
“It’s the bastardization of nature,” Veronica hissed. “When they split the atom all those years ago, they never knew what would come of it. Now, you’ve split the basis of humans, and power is going to erupt from that.”
“I thought you were in favor of the project.” Dana raised his eyebrows.
“My feelings are far more complicated than simply stating I am for or against this project,” Veronica said. “You could never understand.”
The car pulled up to the tall gates of the first ever D.E.M.O.N. site, clearing through the gates as the twenty-three cars made their way in, driving up the long road over the flat terrain, passing by large, open fields and slowly coming upon the five-story laboratory facility, where Kyle and his team had been setting up the previous month, duplicating the files needed for the D.E.M.O.N. project and starting work on more DNA tests to move away from the first three animals that had been perfected.
As Sean was pulling into the parking lot, the other vans carrying the D.E.M.O.N.s drove to the other side of the building, where small homes were lined up, all one story and minimal in appearance, but separated, to allow for a sense of privacy.
There was nothing over the top of the
enormous grounds, and the walls were about ten meters high. Veronica knew that the demons could easily leave the grounds, but she was confident that they would not. She wanted them to have their space, the open air, and a chance for the sun to shine down on them but, for now, she wanted them contained.
This would be the first time the D.E.M.O.N.s had seen the sun since they were captured by the Commission of the People.
Walking with Dana, Lily, and Sean, Veronica moved around the side of the lab, not bothering to check the structure as the other three did, since she had been at the project site only a week previous.
She was more curious about watching the D.E.M.O.N.s get out of the cars.
The first two vans opened, allowing seven individuals out. In the first van, a man and a woman, obviously related, were standing close to the car, allowing the guards to take the cuffs off their necks. On the male’s hip, a young boy was held securely, though his eyes were wide in wonder and he was squirming in his father’s arms.
“Papa! I want—”
“Hold still…” his father whispered, holding the young D.E.M.O.N. still as the guards removed the cuff. The female was looking around, her eyes wide, filling with happy tears as she stepped away from the car, free of her neck cuff, holding the silent infant in her arms, who was also looking around, though he did not experience the same wonderment as the older ones.
From the second van, a young man with pale skin and nearly-black hair cringed away from the sun when he first got out, but soon was closing his eyes and standing in the sun’s rays, relishing in the feeling of being outside once again. He turned and laughed as the four D.E.M.O.N.s of the other car, free from their restraints, started running toward the rows of houses, falling in the green grass out front. The young boy laughed and leapt on his father as they playfully wrestled.
“It’s hard to believe that he’s only a year old…” Dana murmured, stepping up to Veronica as they watched the family play in the grass. “Six month gestation, and then to mature to speech and motor skills so quickly…it’s remarkable.”
“Indeed,” Veronica agreed. “But, like you said, we don’t know anything about these creatures. It’s important to let them grow as they can, and observe quietly for a while, to see if they will continue on their own.”
“Well, for Eyna, we’ll have to interfere,” Lily chuckled. “He can’t get Rehan pregnant on his own…”
“They had a natural conception, correct?” Veronica asked, nodding to the pale young man and the young woman at his side, who was holding onto an infant as well.
“Yes, they did,” Dana nodded. “Clark! Nancy! Come over here and thank Miss Harris.”
The two turned to Veronica and she sighed sadly, watching how frightened the two were as they approached. She knew that it took time for people to get angry enough to cause drastic change, but the D.E.M.O.N.s were so terrified after everything they had endured in the Commission that they were obedient and frightened of everything. Veronica wanted to tell them that they were more powerful than Dana and Lily, that they could fight back and win, but she refrained.
It would be a few generations before one of the D.E.M.O.N.s became angry enough to fight back and smart enough to organize the others to rise up. Veronica had to be patient.
Clark and Nancy walked up to Veronica and bowed their heads to her, whispering quiet and worried thanks.
“What do you call yourselves?” Veronica asked.
They both looked at her, confused.
“What?”
“Your real names.”
They looked at one another, confused and unsure what the woman meant or if they should answer.
“It’s okay, you can tell me.”
“We probably should not promote the use of those silly names they make up for one another,” Lily laughed behind Veronica.
Veronica turned to Clark, “Jyara, right?”
The young man blinked, straightening up before nodding slowly.
“What about you?” Veronica pressed, turning to the female.
“Lyrra,” she murmured.
“Beautiful.” Veronica smiled. “And who is this beautiful little girl?”
“Nau,” Lyrra smiled, turning her body to bring the infant closer to Veronica. The older woman smiled and gently ran her hand over the infant’s hair.
“What a beautiful name,” she murmured.
The young D.E.M.O.N. reached out for Veronica, clenching her little clawed fingers repeatedly, trying to reach for the redhead.
“May I?”
Lyrra carefully transferred the baby to Veronica’s arms. Veronica held onto the young girl, turning to see the last four adult D.E.M.O.N.s released from their vans and running forward to explore the facility.
She turned to Lyrra and transferred the baby back to her mother.
“You look like a natural,” Dana teased.
“I’ve had experience with children,” Veronica said.
“None of your own?”
“No,” Veronica assured quickly. “I don’t want any of my own.” She nodded to Lyrra and Jyara. “Please, go find a home that you like, and be comfortable there.”
“Thank you so much,” Jyara bowed his head again and took Lyrra’s hand, both of them walking to the houses.
“You’re not afraid of them?” Dana asked, looking over Veronica seriously.
“No,” Veronica murmured. She turned and sighed, glancing over the families darting to the different houses, disappearing inside before coming out to greet each other, playing and laughing as if they were in a stereotypical urban neighborhood.
“I am thrilled to start studying what they are capable of…” Lily shivered. She walked to Dana and wrapped her arms around his waist, snuggling close. “Look at our babies…”
“You did good, Mama.” Dana grinned, running his fingers over the back of Lily’s neck.
“You, too, Papa,” she giggled. The two shared a passionate kiss that had Sean feeling awkward while Veronica paid no attention to it.
She took a deep breath and looked around the facility slowly, her eyes settling on the small area where the D.E.M.O.N.s were playing.
This was for the best. She knew it was. She saw the way things would progress from here, the way the public would change as fickly as they always had, and the D.E.M.O.N.s would become the most feared creatures known on earth…and possibly many other places as well. She had to get as many people that were worthy of surviving off the planet as soon as possible, she had to fund projects to move people because, as the D.E.M.O.N.s would grow more numerous, there was a greater chance that the one who would rally them together would be born.
“I am going to speak with Eyna,” Veronica said, walking toward the first D.E.M.O.N. family, who were letting the young boy pick the house they would explore.
“Hyreyna?” she called.
The first D.E.M.O.N.’s back stiffened and he slowly turned, shocked by the use of his proper name. He saw the woman standing behind him and blinked at her, unsure what to say. “We’ve never actually met, but…my name is Veronica Harris. I’m the one who built this facility for you.”
“…thank you,” Hyreyna breathed. “You don’t know what this means to me…to us…”
“I can guess,” Veronica said with a gentle smile.
“Do I know you from somewhere?” Hyreyna asked, tilting his head as he looked over the woman.
“It is entirely possible,” Veronica chuckled. She looked at Rehan and the two children with her. “I would like to speak with you, if that’s alright.”
“Of course…” Hyreyna turned to Rehan and nodded once. The female D.E.M.O.N. ushered the excited boy into the house he had picked. Veronica and Eyna watched the family disappear, also nodding to another D.E.M.O.N. who was wandering around in awe, running and laughing as he played in the sun.
Veronica looked over her shoulder at Dana and the others.
“I don’t have much time, but I must ask you something.”
“Yes?”
&n
bsp; “A favor, actually,” Veronica pressed. “I won’t be around often to help you, so I need you to push yourself as hard as you can. Find every limit you have, find how to use your powers, hone them, and then teach the others what you find out.”
“Powers? What are you—”
“The scientists aren’t able to comprehend what you’re capable of, so make sure that you know fully and use it to your advantage,” Veronica continued in a hushed whisper, cutting off the D.E.M.O.N. “Hyreyna, one day, a day that you will see, someone in your bloodline will rise up and they will rally the D.E.M.O.N.s against the humans. D.E.M.O.N.s will destroy the humans, so you have to be sure that you know the powers you have and how to control them. Then teach that control to the others. If you have any D.E.M.O.N.s that are out of control, the whole program will be shut down, and you’ll all be killed.”
“You…you want us to destroy everything?” Hyreyna hissed, his eyes wide.
“It seems to be the only way to reset everything properly,” Veronica whispered.
Hyreyna’s eyes widened further and his mouth opened slowly.
“It can’t be…you…you’re…”
There were three long seconds that hung in silence as the two stared at one another.
Slowly, Hyreyna lifted his right hand, holding his palm out to Veronica, who stared at it before reaching up and pressing her hand to his.
He gasped and backed away, staring at her, half in fear and half in fascination.
“It’s you…it’s really you…I knew you were real…”
END
Alternate Ending
Alternate
Part 3
Chapter Sixty-Nine
No one knew what to do.
It was impossible to rid the fort of the air of defeat. There was absolutely nothing we could do to fight Dana. He had swept the metaphorical rug out from under us, and with the country rallying to get rid of us, we were in twice as much danger.
No one really spoke to one another the following day lost in deep thought and terrified for what he near future held for us. We were trapped in the bunker, knowing that we had no options available to us.
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