Alpha: a futuristic dystopian thriller (EGALIA Book 2)

by Allison Goh

  With the state of emergency, the strict laws of election had been bypassed and Orion, bearing the Mayor’s recommendation, was not only allowed to chair a special anti-terror committee but had also been nominated as a special member of Congress, giving him a prized seat at the most powerful decision-making body in Egalia.

  Kate paced the room and wrung her hands. Max and Billy exchanged worried looks. Taking down Orion seemed like an insurmountable task now. With his new found political clout, it was increasingly difficult to fathom how they could expose his true nature.

  The situation was compounded by the fact that the people were more than happy to let Orion lead. No one doubted his intentions, his close friends and business partners being the victims of the latest shooting. In fact, people praised him for standing up and fighting the injustice and his actions actually brought him many supporters.

  And just today, Orion pulled off the impossible. Orion apprehended the suspects of the shooting. One man and one woman. Orion’s anti-terror committee took all the credit and the people’s faith in Orion skyrocketed. And, just to add a cherry on top, the suspects he apprehended readily confessed to the crime. It couldn’t be more perfect. If the public had any doubts that Orion was undeserving of his new found political status, those doubts were gone now. He was seen as a public hero, a billionaire with a heart of gold.

  Max, Kate and Billy who knew the truth was shocked at the depths of Orion’s duplicity. He had managed to milk the Aculles’ shooting to its very last drop.

  Additionally, Billion’s efforts at trying to collate action from the Alpha5 had been met with dead silence. None of them wanted any part to do with Kate’s plan anymore, and they avoided all of Billion’s repeated attempts to get in contact. In fact, they seemed almost hostile towards the Molten family, and strongly advised Billion to ask Kate to just drop it and leave the country, while she still could.

  Max had been dumbfounded at everyone’s change of heart. He decided to call up his friends to investigate. He figured that his friends would be more truthful to him than their parents were to Billion.

  Finally, after some probing and certainly no small measure of pleading, Ethan Zine admitted that Orion had visited his parents shortly after Paul and Patty’s death. Max tried to probe further but that was all Ethan would say. Meanwhile, Lucian Titus admitted the same, that Orion visited his father around the same time. Lucian wasn’t certain about the purpose of the visit but suffice to say from the shouting he overheard, it wasn’t a pleasant visit. Max related this news to Kate and Billy and from their reactions, he guessed that they were all thinking of the same thing.

  It didn’t need a stretch of imagination to guess that Orion had probably threatened them not to push the matter anymore.

  In fact, Orion probably didn’t even need to threaten the Alpha5 explicitly. Everyone could guess that it was probably no small coincidence that Paul and Patty had met their demise so soon after that fateful day they visited Orion at his house to confront him again about Ren. This meeting was known to the other Alpha5 and now they could only guiltily feel relieved that they hadn’t chosen to join them then.

  Max looked at his mother’s worried face and felt a deep anger rising from within him. They couldn’t just let Orion win like this! He had trapped his mother against her will for over 20 years and now he was using his technology, the Infinity Chip, to create some kind of diabolical terrorist army while building a public front as a humanist political leader. It was ridiculous. He was a killer! If they all just sat back and let things continue as they were, it was only a matter of time before Egalia became the playground for Orion’s tyranny.

  “Mom,” Max said, “We’re sitting ducks if we don’t act. We need to do something!”

  “I know Max,” Kate said. “But what can we do? I don’t think the Zines or Tituses will involve themselves anymore…” Kate said, her eyes downcast.

  Max didn’t know what to say. He shuffled around the room, hands in his pockets, thinking of alternatives.

  “Mom, we have to do something…” Max said, pleading once more.

  Kate remained silent, hunched in her seat, her eyes downcast. From her posture and expression, she certainly looked to be on the verge of giving up.

  No! Max wouldn’t allow that. Not when they’ve come this far!

  “I have an idea,” Max said, “Ren! If he really possesses some kind of immortal gene, don’t you think he would have the best chance against Orion?” Max said.

  Kate looked taken aback at the suggestion. “Orion is his father,” Kate said, “Why would he help us?”

  Max hesitated. “He’s my best friend. He trusts me. And, if we tell him what we know about Paul and Patty, and those things he’s doing with the Infinity Chip, don’t you think he might help us?” he said.

  Kate took a minute to consider what her son was suggesting. It was a very risky move. Could they trust Ren?

  Kate pondered lengthily at the suggestion. They really didn’t have many options.

  Just then, Kate had a moment of genius. “Paris!” Kate said, “Our key is Paris! She’d want to know what actually happened to her parents. Once she finds out what Orion has done….This could work, this could really work!”

  --------

  Two days later, Ren and Paris found themselves being ushered into Max’s home. Ren wondered at all the secrecy. They couldn’t even tell his dad that they were going to meet Max today. What was so important that Max had to tell them, in person, today?

  Nevertheless, Ren was still pleased to see his friend.

  “Max,” Ren said, as he hugged Max. As he pulled back, he looked at Max and was pleased to note that he looked good. After the whole fiasco with his mother, Ren had feared that Max would never be the same again but he looked to be in good spirits.

  Paris hugged Max too but she didn’t say much. The death of her parents still weighed heavily on her mind.

  After an hour explaining the situation, Max felt he had done all he could to convince Ren and Paris that Orion had to be stopped.

  Max studied Ren’s expression as he perused the videos of the Green scientists in Sector A over and over again, but his face was unreadable. Besides the strange brainwashing like techniques and probably unethical experimentation that was going on in the building, the resemblance of the two people in the video and the two suspects in the Aculle murder was uncanny. And these were the same two suspects that his father had supposedly helped apprehend. Looking at the videos and then looking at the two suspect profiles that was available on every news portal, the irresistible conclusion was that Orion was behind the Aculles murder.

  Paris took over the screen that Ren was holding and re-wound the videos over and over again. Her eyes started watering even as her gaze remained steadfast on the screen.

  Ren looked at Paris, who had chewed her bottom lip until it bled. She didn’t even notice as her eyes never left the screen. He looked sorrowful as he stared at his beloved wife.

  “I don’t know what to say Max,” Ren said. “I… I’m not sure I can believe you,” Ren said, as averted his eyes.

  “I know it’s a lot to take in but all of this is true. I have no reason to make this up,” Max said, his voice firm and his gaze unwavering.

  “I don’t know what you want me to do Max, why are you coming to me with this?” Ren said, flames danced angrily in his eyes as he stared at Max and contemplated the terrible position that his best friend had just put him in.

  “It’s the truth,” Max said.

  He turned to look at Paris. “You deserve to know,” he said.

  Looking at both of them this time, he continued, “Orion is creating some kind of army with the Infinity Chip and he was the one who instructed those people to shoot…” Max couldn’t quite complete his sentence, noticing Paris’s pained look. He felt sorry for her. He knew what it was like to lose a parent.

  Paris started shedding tears while the two men were left at a loss on what to do.

  After another laps
e of silence, Paris reached out and clasped Ren’s arm tightly. Ren looked at her with concern and as she lifted her face to meet his gaze, Ren was surprised to note that she had stopped crying. Instead, a determined look filled her face.

  Paris turned to face Max and said, with a quiet anger in her voice, “I believe you.”

  At this moment, Ren let out an exasperated sigh. He pushed his hair out of his face and turned his body away from Max and Paris. He was at his wits end here. This was asking him to choose between his wife and father. How could he decide? He stared into the distance, unsure of what to do.

  Paris maintained her steely look at Max and said, “I’ve done my share of snooping. I know that my parents were threatening Orion over something and he wasn’t happy.”

  Max looked at Paris in surprise and said, “You’re right on that front Paris…” Just as he was about to tell her all he knew, he hesitated. He wasn’t sure how far he should go, especially when this actually concerned Ren.

  Encouraged by Max’s response, Paris sat up and squared her shoulders. “What else do you know Max? Do you know why my parents were threatening Orion?”

  Max didn’t dare look her in the eye. His gaze flickered over Ren. He wondered if Ren knew. Was this really the time to talk about this?

  Finally, Max decided that it was all or nothing. If they couldn’t be honest about things, their fight against Orion would be lost. He had to lay everything out for them once and for all and convince them that they were the side worth fighting for.

  “It’s about Ren,” Max said as he monitored Ren’s expression closely.

  “Ren?” Paris said, her mouth gaped open in surprise.

  Turning to Ren, Max said, “Ren, I know about your secret… your abilities…” he cringed at the awkward phrase, he still didn’t know what to call it.

  Ren froze. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and started playing with the edges of his shirt.

  Paris turned to Ren, “What’s going on? What’s all this about?” she said.

  As Ren reluctantly explained the truth, Paris backed away in shock. She couldn’t believe that her husband had never thought to tell her all this.

  “Forgive me baby,” Ren said, “I only knew of the extent of my abilities recently. My father just told me…” Ren said, his face panic-stricken as clung desperately to Paris who refused to remain in his grasp.

  After a few minutes of struggle, Ren gave up trying to cajole Paris and he moved to a corner and sat there looking resigned.

  As their fight cooled down, Paris returned her attention back to Max. “Thank you for coming to me with this Max. Ren and I have a lot to discuss,” she said as she shot Ren a meaningful look.

  “Don’t worry,” Paris said, noticing Max’s worried look, “I’ll definitely get back to you on this. I’m the first person who will want to see my parents avenged, you have my word on that. We’ll contact you soon.”

  Paris got up and extended a hand to Ren which he took gratefully. Together they left Max’s house and as Max saw them out, he sincerely hoped that he had made the right decision coming to them with all his cards laid out. There was no turning back after this.

  Chapter 12: Assembly, Men

  Max stared at the two people bound in a makeshift cell in Kate’s laboratory. His eyes widened even more when he noticed their prison garb and recognition dawned upon him.

  “Are those who I think they are??” Max asked, disbelief in his voice.

  “Yes,” Kate said, “Billy and a few hired hands managed to hijack their transport vehicle on the way to prison.” Kate beamed at Billy with pride.

  “What are you planning to do with them?” Max said, his voice shaky. He didn’t expect that Kate had this in her. This was bringing the operation onto a whole new level.

  “We probably need an expert to examine them. They are our definitive proof of what Orion is up to, the leverage that we need!” Kate said, her eyes sparkling.

  Max looked at his mother in surprise. “That’s why you captured them?” he said.

  “We were at our wits’ end,” Kate said. “I had to do something.”

  Max looked up after a pause and nodded. He could understand his mother’s reasoning. With Orion’s rapid ascent in political power and the rest of the Alpha5 washing their hands off the matter, the situation looked increasingly dire for them.

  The creases in Max’s forehead deepened as he thought about what to do next.

  “I think we need to let Ren and Paris in on this,” Max said. “This is the proof we need to convince them.”

  Kate frowned, “Are you sure Max? Can they be trusted?”

  “Yes mom, especially Paris. I think if she sees this, she’ll definitely be on our side.” Max said.

  “Alright then,” Kate said, deciding to trust her son’s instincts.

  --------

  The next day, Ren, Paris, Brian and Lyxa showed up at Kate’s laboratory.

  Max was flabbergasted but he had no choice but to let them all in. Them making a scene out on the streets would be even worse.

  Right at the entrance however, Max stopped them in their tracks.

  “Ren!” Max said, “How could you? I told you this was to be of strictest confidence! Who are all these people?” he said, his fists clenched at his sides.

  “Calm down,” Ren said, “They can be trusted! This is Brian and Lyxa. Brian is the son of infamous Green scientists, you should know them… I thought he would be of help to us, since this involves the Infinity Chip…” Ren said, careful not to mention Max’s own role with regards to the Infinity Chip.

  Gesturing to Lyxa, who was nervously playing with her lavender hair, Ren said, “And this is Lyxa, Mayor Wayne’s daughter, she was also of great help to us the previous time…”

  Max looked at Brian and Lyxa, eyes narrowed. He was doubtful of their utility, but it was too late now. They were already here.

  Sighing, Max said, “Alright then. Come on in…”

  After making sure the two captives were securely bound, Max allowed Brian to examine the captives and determine what exactly was going on. After half an hour, Brian came out of the makeshift cell room, his expression grave.

  “Okay I’m done with the examination,” Brian said, “First off, I think both of them have the Infinity Chips installed. They have the tell tale mark at the nape of their neck and from what I can tell, both chips are active. But from my cursory checks, they don’t seem like regular patients.”

  Folding his arms across his chest, Brian continued, “They seem to be very unresponsive. Their symptoms mirror that of the patients I have examined before and what the research has suggested but… it’s far worse….”

  Lyxa spoke up abruptly, interrupting Brian, “Wait, you said that these people have infinity chips installed? How is that possible?”

  “You’re right. How did Orion get his hands on these people?” Ren said, looking at Max, “Weren’t all the Infinity Chips recalled and banned from use?”

  An alarming thought entered Max’s head. Max turned pale, his hands trembled as he muttered to himself, “The rehabilitation project…OrionWan-Nutrienas is in charge now…”

  Before he could continue, Paris seemed to have caught on. She stared at Max with her piercing violet eyes.

  Paris turned to Ren, “Orion… Orion is behind this!” she said, gripping Ren’s arm so tightly it hurt, “His rehabilitation project for the Infinity Chip patients! He’s using them!” she said, her voice rising as she got more and more agitated.

  Paris started to dry heave. Ren put his arm around her, hoping to calm her down.

  The tension in the room grew heavy as everyone pondered at the gravity of the situation. How could Orion make use of the Infinity Chip patients like that? It was horrible!

  Max felt a cold sweat down his back. Images of the building in Sector A came rushing back to memory. The people shackled to operating tables, the seminar room with the crowd hanging onto the speaker’s every word, and that smaller room, where he had fi
rst seen the two captives, the people in the labcoats shouting commands at them…

  It couldn’t be! Max thought. The entire rehabilitation project was a ruse. He was exploiting the Infinity Chip patients and using them! It was despicable!

  Max turned to Brian, “We’ve been privy to some of the action inside Orion’s facility. We think there’s some kind of brainwashing experiment going on. Let me show you what we know.”

  Max showed Brian and Lyxa the evidence they had gathered about Sector A so far.

  Their reactions said it all. Especially Brian, whose face had turned green.

  Max put a hand on his shoulder. He felt bad for the guy.

  “Can you tell us more about what you said just now? About the symptoms?” Max asked Brian.

  Brian took a deep breath and said, “Yes, as I was saying, they seem very unresponsive. It is similar to the research I’ve read about the side effects of the Infinity chip but their physical bodies are coping well, which shouldn’t be the case…” Brian said, shaking his head.

  Max frowned. “Looks like Orion has synthesized the Infinity Chip technology to something more…” he said.

  “We need to stop him,” Paris said, “We can’t let him get away with this!”

  Ren winced at Paris’s mention of his father. The mountain of evidence against Orion was growing but a part of him still hoped that they were wrong. He wanted to believe that his father wasn’t responsible for all these happenings, that it was all just a horrible misunderstanding.

  Max looked at Paris and then at Ren. He felt a great sympathy for Paris but even more for Ren. He must be utterly torn right now. All his friends and family were but begging him to turn his back against his father.

  But, they had no choice. To make their operation against Orion work, they needed his help.

  “Look,” Max said, “This is a lot to digest. Right now, we have the proof that Orion is doing something horrible to the Infinity Chip patients in Sector A. How and when we are going to use this against Orion is undecided. I’m inviting all of you to join me against our crusade. We’ll meet next week to discuss a more concretized plan and I hope to see you there,” Max said.