Genesis Rising

by Eliza Green

  ‘He’s not here.’

  ‘But you know where he is. We know where he is. We’ve been respectful in not going there, but you leave me no choice.’

  ‘Give up, Harvey. This is over.’

  Harvey laughed softly. ‘You don’t get it, do you? It’s only just beginning.’

  Marcus stood up suddenly. ‘He’s in the Conditioned’s caves.’

  Harvey didn’t look surprised to see him. ‘And how would you know that?’

  ‘Because I saw him. I... I infiltrated their group to get information for you.’

  ‘And in the process, you allowed Bill and his men to take Ben Watson.’

  Marcus puffed out his chest. ‘It was part of my plan.’

  ‘Bullshit.’ Harvey pointed a finger at him. ‘You’re a dead man, Marcus Murphy. I should have killed you when I had the chance.’

  Two shadowy figures sped past their location. Bill tensed up, unsure whether they were part of Harvey’s team or on his side.

  The pair stopped next to Bill.

  His eyes widened in surprise. ‘Laura!’

  Seeing Clement with her twisted his heart a little. But he mostly felt relief.

  Her gaze flicked between Bill and Harvey. ‘Bill, don’t give him Jameson.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because I know what he really wants to do. He wants to reverse all genetic changes in Indigenes, and probably the Conditioned. Turn them back to human.’

  Bill shook his head in disbelief. He stared at Harvey. ‘Is that true?’

  A look of remorse clouded Harvey’s face. That surprised Bill.

  ‘It is.’

  ‘Why?’

  Harvey tucked his hands into his pockets, like they were having a regular conversation. ‘Regardless of what planet we’re stuck on, Bill, we’re not ready to accept evolution. All our problems began the second we started messing around with genetics. You might not believe me but my intentions are honourable. I want to remake this world into what it should have been from the start.’

  Bill tried to see what Harvey would gain from it. ‘Why? Don’t your genetic clinics need customers?’

  Harvey made a noise. ‘I don’t give a fuck about the clinics. Never have. My time stuck on Earth gave me more time to think about this than I cared for.’

  ‘But you’re saying you’ve made a mistake and now you want to fix it?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Why now?’

  Harvey sighed deeply. ‘Because I can’t see any other way. We need to level the playing field again, to remove the advantages two species have over the third.’

  Bill balled his fists. ‘It’s not your decision to make.’

  ‘It is. Humans created this mess; humans should undo it.’

  His intentions sounded strangely honourable, but Bill didn’t trust the man. He certainly didn’t trust his end game. It was too little too late.

  ‘I can’t give you Jameson.’

  ‘You will, eventually. You’ll see this is the only way it can happen.’

  ‘This ends here.’

  ‘It ends when I say it does.’

  Bill was done talking. He nodded at one of the Conditioned to restrain Harvey. But Harvey surprised him by pulling out a concealed Buzz Gun. He fired at the Conditioned first, then at Bill’s hands.

  Bill dropped his weapon and jumped back from the dissipated energy.

  Before he could retrieve his gun, Harvey had climbed back into his car. It sped off towards the city. Behind him, Bill heard his own vehicle turn over. He spun round to see Marcus was in the driving seat.

  ‘What are you doing?’

  The criminal floored it; the skidding wheels showered Bill with dust and pulverised rock. He shielded his eyes and got his fingers on the handle, but Marcus had locked the doors. He kicked the side of the vehicle as it sped away.

  ‘We need to go after him,’ said Laura.

  He watched the pair go, too stunned to reply, too stunned to follow.

  ‘Bill?’

  Seven stepped closer. ‘Are we going to stand here all night?’

  He ignored him.

  What if Harvey had a point, no matter how insidious his methods might be? He wasn’t suggesting that Harvey enact his plan, but genetics were the cause of, and solution to, the problems on Exilon 5.

  Perhaps the only remaining solution was to level the playing field, not genetically, but in a way that suited everyone.

  32

  Laura shook Bill hard. ‘We have to follow him. Harvey’s looking for another way to get Jameson.’

  He blinked his shock away. ‘How do you know?’

  She pulled back her hair. ‘His ghost told me while you two were chatting.’

  That was the last thing he’d expected her to say. ‘Where’s he going?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  Bill blinked again and checked the status of Harvey’s men who had initially tried to stop him. The Conditioned appeared to have control of them. In the distance, he could barely see the base station. He hoped Stephen was having success there.

  Seven looked pensive. ‘Bill, if Harvey Buchanan really plans to reverse genetic changes, it appears that this is our issue as much as it is yours. You must stop him. We will manage his men out here.’

  Bill pointed to the city. ‘And in there?’

  ‘We cannot help you. But we will protect Jameson for as long as is necessary.’

  Bill stared at the city. Harvey had to be returning to New Tokyo for a reason.

  A thought deepened his worry. ‘Is there a way to access your caves from inside the city?’

  Seven’s eyes widened suddenly. ‘Yes. We have tunnels leading out. They were part of the old Deighton regime. Elite One told us about them, that if anything happened we should use them to escape.’

  ‘Where do they lead out to?’

  ‘A sewage grate near one of the parks.’

  ‘Can you show me?’

  Seven hesitated.

  ‘This may not be your city but you were human once. You owe it to the rest of us risking our lives to help you.’

  Seven looked unconvinced and Bill thought he might have to resort to begging. But then the Conditioned male nodded. He spoke to the others in a rushed manner similar to the way the Indigenes spoke to one another.

  Laura glanced at the city. ‘That’s where he’s headed. It has to be.’ To Seven, she said, ‘Your men need to block the tunnels from your side, make sure Harvey can’t get in.’

  Seven nodded. ‘I’ll tell them. They will also take Harvey’s men back with them.’

  The city, with its tall skyscrapers illuminated only by the double moonlight, beckoned to Bill. ‘I’m going after Harvey. None of this stops until we stop him.’

  ‘Not without us, you’re not.’ Laura pulled Clement closer.

  ‘No, I go alone.’

  This was his fight. Harvey was his problem. Bill should have dealt with him the second he set foot on Exilon 5.

  Laura blocked him. ‘The hell you will.’

  He glared at her, ready to challenge her, but Laura had that look in her eye that said her mind was made up.

  ‘I’m coming with you whether you like it or not,’ said Clement. ‘This is not your fight alone. Stephen would want one of us to help stop Harvey. And if Stephen were here, I guarantee he would be following you into that city.’

  Clement was right. Stephen wouldn’t have let him go alone.

  He conceded with a nod, grateful for the extra protection.

  He said to Gunnar, ‘Wait here for Stephen and the others to return. Tell him what’s happened. As soon as he confirms he has control of BS-1, contact Jeff in ITF. We need Susie to take charge, asap.’

  ‘On it.’

  Bill commandeered one of the spare vehicles belonging to Harvey’s men. Laura got in with him, while Clement and Seven ran alongside the vehicle. Bill took it slow and kept the lights off.

  Th
e city barricade loomed up ahead and he slowed the car to a crawl. It had guards on it, how many he couldn’t tell. In the darkness Bill could only make out their outlines.

  ‘There’s five of them,’ whispered Laura. ‘Clement, Seven and I can take them out.’

  Bill nodded, while Laura got out and spoke to Clement and Seven. When they made it inside the city, he hoped Hetty and her team would be watching. If the power came back on, it would restore the interstellar wave. All DPads would be fully functional. That would at least give them some way to coordinate their efforts. But restoring the Wave would also mean restoring it for Harvey and the renegades.

  He watched the three figures—one his wife—move quickly and quietly towards the entrance. Grunts sounded at the barricade. A scuffle followed. Laura raced back and got into the car. She was out of breath. ‘Go now, before Harvey’s men have time to regroup.’

  Bill floored it, but jerked his foot off the accelerator when he saw part of the barricade was still up.

  She touched his hand. ‘We don’t have time to move the bigger pieces. We’re going to have to ram it.’

  He sucked in a breath and upped the speed. Gripping the steering wheel tight, he braced for impact. The vehicle slammed into the steel barrier, causing it to warp, then shift to the side. Both Laura and Bill jerked forward in their seats. Bill hit something solid; Laura’s arm was across his chest. The car trundled past the shocked men being restrained.

  Laura breathed out, ‘Stop!’

  Bill hit the brake pedal just as a brick wall, hidden by the darkness, appeared before him. The car screeched to a sudden, sharp halt.

  Bill huffed out a tense breath just as Clement and Seven arrived at his window.

  ‘Follow us in the car, and keep the lights off,’ said Seven.

  He ran out in front. Clement kept good pace with them, but Bill struggled to keep up without illumination. It wasn’t long before they disappeared from sight.

  He flicked his lights on.

  Laura said, ‘No, leave them off. I can guide you.’

  They travelled on narrow roads, taking lefts and rights when Laura commanded them. Then Laura pointed. ‘Up ahead.’

  Bill squinted at the blackness, barely making out the outline of two vehicles. Clement and Seven were standing next to them. One was his, the other was the one Marcus had stolen. Bill parked the car behind them and got out.

  ‘I’m certain Harvey is in the tunnel Elite One mentioned,’ said Seven. ‘It leads straight to the caves.’

  Bill patted his waistband, checking he still had his Buzz Gun. There was no way he was going in unarmed. With a sigh, he found it.

  ‘What are we waiting for?’

  Seven shook his head. ‘No Buzz Guns. Not in close quarters. The electricity will slow me down.’

  ‘And me,’ said Clement. ‘Trust me—we are all the weapons you need.’

  Bill hesitated, then tossed the weapon in the car.

  Seven said, ‘This way.’

  They all followed him over a gate that led into a Japanese garden. Bill huffed and puffed over the gate; the others had no trouble. After this, he promised himself he’d get fit.

  They followed the trail that led along the edge of the manicured lawns, water features, stone bridges and bonsai trees. On the outer edge of the park was a service entrance, approximately six feet tall. Seven opened it and revealed a set of stairs.

  Clement cocked an ear. ‘I hear two male voices.’

  ‘Let’s hurry,’ said Laura.

  ‘I’ll wait here, protect the entrance,’ said Seven.

  Bill descended into the stairwell that was darker than he could bear. He wished he’d brought a light. He already felt ill-equipped for this without his gun.

  Laura gripped his hand and whispered, ‘I got you.’

  He landed feet first in a tunnel that appeared to be a water supply tunnel for the city’s habitants.

  Up ahead, he saw a flickering light and two men. One was Marcus, the other Harvey. He pulled Laura back and mouthed at Clement to wait.

  ‘I’m comin’ with you,’ Marcus drawled.

  ‘The hell you are. I’m done with you.’ Harvey.

  ‘But I helped you find Jameson. If it wasn’t for me, you would still be looking.’

  Harvey smirked and kept walking. ‘Bullshit. You got caught defecting to the other side. Now you’re trying to play me.’

  ‘I’m not playing.’

  Harvey stopped and rattled with laughter. ‘Who do you think you’re talking to? You’re a lowly piece of scum. Gaetano Agostini saw that. That’s why he saved his skin and not yours.’

  Marcus visibly tensed. ‘So why the fuck did you bring me to Exilon 5 if I wasn’t of use?’

  ‘Because I mistakenly thought you could be useful here. I saw recently how your presence put the boy on edge and I used you to keep him under control. But you couldn’t even manage that.’

  Marcus made a rude noise. ‘Look, I can do more. Just give me a chance.’

  ‘You’ve had all the chances you’re getting.’

  Harvey walked on and the light bobbed away with him. Marcus followed. Bill matched their pace but kept back.

  ‘Are you really planning to reverse the genetic freaks, return them to humans?’ Marcus asked.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because they are fighting too much to resolve their differences.’ Harvey glanced over his shoulder. ‘This world would be better off without a hierarchy.’

  ‘Nothing wrong with hierarchies,’ Marcus muttered.

  Harvey stopped and faced him. ‘Hierarchies have destroyed lives, cities. Hierarchies have pitted us against each other. Each side wants something the other can’t give them. The Conditioned want to be left alone. They’ll never get that luxury. People care too much about differences, even though they spend a lifetime trying to convince others they don’t. The Indigenes want equality.’ He scoffed. ‘People can’t see past their small-minded bullshit long enough for that to ever happen. So there’s only one solution left.’

  ‘Even if you fix them, they won’t be accepted. We’ll remember what they used to be.’ Marcus sounded desperate, like he was trying to convince Harvey to give up. Like he was holding up his own criminal life as an example.

  Harvey walked on and the light grew dimmer. Bill crept along with them.

  ‘You know why Gaetano Agostini and others like him failed?’ said Harvey, his voice drifting away.

  Marcus jogged after him. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because their focus was too narrow. They only saw what was in front of them, not what was around them.’

  Marcus spat out, ‘Gaetano kept control of Earth for eight years. You don’t do that if you have no vision.’

  ‘He lost it because he was too short-sighted. Like you. I’m doing this world a favour. If you can’t see that, you have no business talking to me, trying to be part of my vision.’

  ‘You’ve got it wrong.’

  Harvey stopped again. ‘Crawl back to whatever rock you lived under, Marcus. And take your small-minded attitude with you. I was stupid to think you had a use.’

  ‘Fuck you.’ Marcus lunged at Harvey.

  Harvey stumbled but stayed upright. He pushed the criminal away. The geneticist might be older but his reflexes were sharper. Harvey pulled something out of his waistband and the air became alive with electricity. Marcus slumped to the ground. Harvey ran ahead.

  Bill raced up to Marcus and pressed two fingers to his neck. His skin was already turning ice cold. His wide eyes held shock. Bill couldn’t find a pulse.

  ‘He’s dead,’ he whispered to the others.

  The crackle of electricity from Harvey’s Buzz Gun lingered in the air, then dissipated to a flat nothing.

  He scrambled to his feet. ‘We need to get after Harvey, stop him.’

  ‘Then what?’ asked Clement.

  ‘Then he’ll answer for his crimes.’
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br />   He had questions for the geneticist. Harvey would not be relegated to the rubbish heap of prisoners; Bill would make him atone for his crimes.

  Clement’s expression darkened. ‘That’s not good enough.’

  The Indigene raced ahead and disappeared around the next corner.

  ‘Clement, no!’ said a panicked Laura. She turned to Bill. ‘I sense he’s going to do something stupid.’

  She raced on ahead, leaving Bill to catch up. They weren’t far but he heard a tussle in the next tunnel.

  Harvey was up ahead, appearing shocked by the confrontation. Clement had pinned him against the tunnel wall. His hair had been tousled from his encounter with Marcus and his weapon had been holstered. He looked up and saw Bill.

  Through laboured breaths, he said, ‘Call off your attack dog, Bill.’

  ‘Clement, please, this is not the way.’

  ‘We must stop him,’ said Clement,

  ‘And we will, but the right way.’

  The Indigene continued to restrain Harvey.

  The geneticist twisted beneath his grip. ‘Tell him to let me go, Bill, or I won’t be responsible for my actions.’

  Laura stepped closer. ‘Clement, let him go.’

  But the Indigene was consumed by something less rational. ‘I can’t.’

  Bill tried reasoning with Harvey. ‘This isn’t the only way, Harvey.’

  The geneticist laughed once. ‘It’s the only way. We need to reset things. And I saw it on your face when I mentioned it. You feel the same way.’

  Laura turned to face him. ‘Is that true?’

  He didn’t know what to think. ‘We have problems here, I’ll admit that. But your solution is not it.’

  Harvey laughed again. ‘It is a humane solution. What we did to these people was brutal to begin with.’

  Clement hissed, ‘We may not have had a choice in what we became but we have the right to choose our future.’

  The geneticist squirmed again. ‘You don’t know what you want. You fight everything. I saw it on Earth; I’m seeing it here.’

  ‘But what about those who were born Indigenes,’ said Laura. ‘They were never human. What if altering their DNA doesn’t work, produces the same results we saw in my change?’

  Harvey shrugged. ‘The second generation Indigenes still share DNA with humans. If we can make humans Indigene, the reverse can happen. It happened with you. I can change you back, Laura.’