Kyle turned to Jack. “Is that what I think it is?”
“It’s why those rules about fraternization were put into place. Yes. It is what you think it is.” Jack’s eyes shifted to Mykl. “Remember what I said about Noah?”
Mykl’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You mean I’m an—I’m part—I’m like Noah?”
“You’re more like your father,” Jack said with a hint of humor.
“But… wait. How old are you?” Mykl asked Jack.
A slow smile spread across Jack’s face. “I was born in 1926.”
“She was right then,” Mykl said.
“Who was right?” Delilah asked.
“Jessica put the pieces together after I introduced her to Noah. Something about an inscription in an airplane hangar?”
“She is a clever one,” said Jack. “But there is much more to it in your case.” He pulled more files from his portfolio. “After years of research and experiments, we needed a human test subject. Though many of our staff expressed a willingness to volunteer, I didn’t want to put any of them at risk. So I chose to be the first human test subject. My adaptation was satisfactory, but it left me without the ability to have any more children.”
“That was not satisfactory,” Delilah said.
Inclining his head to his wife in acquiescence, Jack said, “The benefits of adaptation include extended lifespan due to the cells’ ability to repair telomeres. You see, Mykl, this life form developed on a moon constantly bombarded with hard radiation from Jupiter. That radiation caused a form of forced evolution. The Europa lichen is a master at survival under the harshest of conditions. And after the virus-modified version was combined with human DNA, it developed a new set of survivability features. As you may have already noticed from your wound, rapid healing is one of those features.”
Mykl scratched at the healed puncture wound through his pants. “So I’m… adapted?”
“Adaptation isn’t the appropriate term in your case. Kyle, Delilah, and I had the modified lichen DNA artificially introduced into our systems. After my resulting adaptation, many more genetic modifications were made until we felt ready for more human trials. Kyle was due to deploy on a dangerous assignment before the trials could be completed. He was administered a promising, but untested, version—under the strict guidelines that he not do any ‘testing’ without City scientists’ authorization.” Kyle looked suitably cowed as Jack raked him with a glance. “You didn’t adapt to the DNA, Mykl. You inherited it from your father. You are, in fact, a mutation… a new species.”
Mykl mouthed the word back at Jack. Species?
Jack nodded.
“Is that a bad thing?” Mykl managed to choke out.
“Do you feel bad?” Jack asked.
Mykl thought for a moment before answering. “Umm, no.”
“Well then, so far so good,” Jack said. He pulled a translucent sheet from his portfolio and placed it on the table, then tapped a corner of the table with two fingers held together, causing the table to light up with a soft cool glow. “This also explains a lot about you and your unusual talents.” The sheet showed a profile cross-section view of what appeared to be a human skull. Jack pressed a corner of the sheet against the table and held it there for a moment. When he removed it, the image remained on the table. With simple taps and finger swipes, the image converted to three dimensions and began to slowly rotate. “This is a scan that Dr. Lee recorded yesterday.”
“Is that me?” Mykl asked. “It looks like my head is packed full of stars.”
“Synaptic connections, to be precise. One thousand times more dense than a normal human brain. In your instance, alien DNA had the opportunity to affect brain growth. Neurons can only form during fetal development and for a few months after birth. After that, we are stuck with what we have.” Jack paused the table display. “What is the earliest memory you have, Mykl?”
“When I was inside my mom, I could feel and hear her sing. I didn’t really have a concept of time. Then one day it felt like I was being squeezed like a tube of toothpaste, and I ended up in a tub of warm water. At least, I think it was a tub. I couldn’t see all that well. Then I was lifted out of the water and I was cold, couldn’t breathe, something was put in my nose, then my mouth, then this whoosh of cold went into me. I was scared. I cried.” Mykl picked up the picture of his mother again. “Then I saw her eyes. And I stopped crying. I knew everything was going to be okay.” He shrugged.
Jack nodded. “Evidently, the alien DNA wanted you to have all your synapses firing before birth. That, along with their density, is why you are so far ahead of most adults in intelligence. The thing you most lack is simple experience with the world and all its wonders. The power of your mind is going to be truly formidable when you decide what you wish to do with it.”
“So, am I… immortal? Am I going to develop a craving for blood? Brains?” Mykl felt quite unsure of what he really was anymore.
“You’re not a vampire… or a zombie,” Kyle said. Hearing the words made Mykl feel silly for asking.
Nodding toward the image in the table, Mykl asked, “Is this why I’ve never been sick before?”
Jack nodded. “Among other things. Healing is accelerated, pain thresholds are much greater. As for immortality, I’m afraid not. We don’t know how long our lifespans will be extended yet, since none of those who were adapted have died of natural causes yet. But it will happen. And we can be killed by a severe enough injury.” Jack leaned in closer to his grandson. “So be careful when jumping on the bed.”
“Yes, sir,” Mykl said, leaning into his dad for comfort. A father. A real father. My father. Mykl smiled. You were right, Mom; he was very happy to see me.
“When do you have to leave?” Delilah asked Kyle.
“The helicopter is waiting for me up top. They’re delaying deployment of the sub under the guise of equipment recalibration, but I’m afraid they can’t keep that up much longer.” Kyle gave Mykl’s shoulder a squeeze. “Want to escort me to my pickup point?”
Mykl set his jaw and assumed a defiant posture. It wasn’t fair. He now had a real father and only minutes left to be with him. Every synapse in his super brain told him to scream, “No, you can’t go!” But he knew that no matter how much he protested or how many tears he shed, it would have no effect on the eventual outcome. It’s about time I grow up and act my age.
“As if you could stop me!” he declared, standing up with Stinker held tightly to his side.
***
With Jack and Delilah following behind, Kyle told Mykl about his mom and what she had been working on.
As the digital age grew, cyberspying computers grew so complex in their ability to crack codes that no one’s data could be completely secure. Eventually, the only way to make sure another country couldn’t pry sensitive secrets out of a crypto vault was to not put them in one in the first place. So a clandestine renaissance took place, where highly trained mind couriers exchanged information person-to-person, with no recording devices save their own memory. Codes were unnecessary as long as they remained discreet. Vegas became a mecca for these spies, and a strip club offered ideal camouflage. The Chinese, in particular, kept a rotation of four diplomats continuously traveling in and out of the country, carrying synaptic secrets under the protection of diplomatic immunity.
Anya took on a long-term assignment to infiltrate the strip club scene and earn the admiration of the couriers. Her linguistic training and observational skills made her well suited to pick up bits of conversation between couriers and their invited guests. She was responsible for relaying critical intelligence to the City about China’s long-term goals—and their suspicions regarding their failed asteroid missions.
Mykl soaked in the details of his mother’s alter ego. It was no wonder she hadn’t been able to spend much time with him. She’d held three jobs at once: stripper, spy, and mother. Mykl felt a pang of guilt for having asked her on numerous occasions to stay up and play for just a little bit longer
. Her resulting fatigue may have caused her to slip up—and cost her her life. It was unwarranted blame, but he accepted it nonetheless.
“Who killed her?” Mykl asked as they arrived at the lift that would take them to Kyle’s pickup point.
Kyle let out a frustrated breath through his nose. “I wish I knew. The last I heard, she was only missing. My dad may know more. I’m sorry.”
“Why didn’t she have the Europa lichen treatment like you did, if she knew it was going to be so dangerous?”
Kyle smiled tenderly at Mykl. “That one is simple, son. She wanted to have children, so she didn’t want to risk the procedure until it was deemed safe for her.”
Guilt sliced more pieces off Mykl’s heart. Would she have survived the attack if she had been adapted? It didn’t matter that he might never have been born. She might have been able to survive.
Kyle said his goodbyes to his parents, then he and Mykl rode up the lift together. Father and son stared at each other in silence from opposite sides of the elevator. Both were still in awe at the existence of the other; neither knew what to say next.
Kyle narrowed his eyes at Mykl, making light of their impromptu staring contest. Mykl narrowed his back in fair imitation of his dad.
Kyle farted loudly.
Mykl blinked. “No fair!” he declared, burying his face into Stinker. These teddy bears were useful creatures indeed.
Wind and debris pelted them as the helicopter strafed the treetops to land nearby. Kyle took a knee and placed his hands on Mykl’s shoulders. Looking him straight in the eyes, he said, “As much as I wanted to say the words to your mom, I never got another chance. I’m not going to make that mistake again. I love you, son.”
Stunned as he was by the words, Mykl was thoroughly incapacitated by the fierce, crushing hug he received from his father. Through tumultuous emotions and a severe lack of breath, he wrapped his arms around Kyle’s neck and squeezed in kind.
CHAPTER 48
In the cool darkness of an undersea world, James awoke to bioluminescent creatures performing a slow underwater ballet. This suited him much better than those garish polka dots, and he felt grateful to Mykl for suggesting this particular ambiance setting. A fully inflated pufferfish with tiny fluttering fins sculled into view, reminding James how badly he needed to relieve his bladder.
The instant he touched a wall to increase its illumination, a “message waiting” square appeared under his fingers and began to flash. Another touch to the square brought up a text message asking him to go see Dr. Lee at the infirmary as soon as he was available. She included no other details. Still, it was enough to put his mind working on what she could possibly want. The subject that jumped to the forefront of his thoughts was Dawn.
He took care of business in the bathroom and, out of habit, dressed without any thought of personal grooming. He glanced up to see the now-deflated pufferfish darting aimlessly among other reef inhabitants. Will wonders ever cease?
With untied shoelaces snapping at his heels, he dashed down the hall. Dawn’s door stood open and her room was lit. Her bed was stripped of linens, and all her drawers were empty. The only hint of her ever having been there was a slight scent of jasmine lingering in the bathroom.
James raced at a dead run to the infirmary, a pace ahead of the panic chasing him. He sprinted along empty streets, past vacant dwellings, and maintained his speed all the way to the infirmary entrance. Dr. Lee met him inside, her hands outstretched in a sign for him to slow down.
“She’s fine, James,” Dr. Lee said.
James placed his hands on his knees and rocked back against the door frame to catch his breath, his fear somewhat reduced. But “fine” never meant the same thing to women as it did to men. He worked to regain control of his breathing.
“I’m sorry, James. I should have included more details in my message. I didn’t mean to frighten you,” Dr. Lee said.
“’S’okay,” James replied in a quick exhalation.
Dr. Lee took hold of his arm to seat him in a chair. “I’ll get you some water.”
James nodded and settled heavily onto the cushion. He ran his fingers through disheveled hair, then closed his eyes while he locked his hands behind his head. In the brief span it took Dr. Lee to retrieve the water, James willed himself to control his breathing and mental state.
“Thank you, Doctor,” he said, taking the glass she offered.
“By the way,” Dr. Lee said, “I like the new James better.” She smiled.
After a thirst-quenching gulp, he replied, “My apologies for the deception.”
“Jack updated me on your story. Survival often requires unique and drastic measures.” Dr. Lee paused. “Which brings us to Dawn.”
“You said she was fine.”
“She is. As much as we have the ability to make her be at the moment. She informed me that she did not tell you about our findings on her condition?”
Condition. The word “fine” rarely ever pertained to any condition.
“She just said you could dispense medication to keep the pain under control.”
He saw from Dr. Lee’s facial expression that a lot more needed to be said about this condition.
“James…”
There must be some unwritten rule among doctors to use a person’s first name and then pause dramatically before giving bad news, James thought.
“Dawn has an inoperable, malignant brain tumor that has metastasized to other organs in her body. When she came here, she only had about two months to live.”
“And this is fine?” James said.
“But—by her wishes and Jack’s permission, we have begun treatment.”
“Why was Jack’s permission required?”
“This treatment is experimental. The procedure has been extremely successful in treating other types of cancer, but none so advanced as hers. Still, she chose to try it. She didn’t want you to watch her spiral down into certain death. She traded sixty more days of blindness and agony for a chance at a real life. A chance to be with you.”
James stared at his knees. Dr. Lee had to be making that last part up to make him feel better about the whole ordeal. He had never expressed his real feelings to Dawn, and she had never divulged any romantic notions either. She couldn’t, since he had been portraying himself as an idiot. Now he truly felt like one for not having the courage to speak when he had the opportunity.
“She isn’t conscious, but you may see her if you wish,” Dr. Lee said.
“I would like that.”
Dawn was being kept in the next building over. Its interior was sparsely furnished, as if to discourage people from lingering. Very few of Dr. Lee’s assistants made their presence known as they traversed two long hallways.
One last turn took them to a short, wide corridor devoid of openings save the one at its end with an illuminated red border. A sign above it read, “Cryo Lab.” To James, it was a witch doctor term from the past that involved wealthy people attempting to cheat death. He hoped it meant something else entirely regarding Dawn.
Dr. Lee stopped to explain the entry procedure. “This is a one-way passage into the Cryo Lab. Once we step in, the first door will close and the entry will pressurize slightly. After that, we may proceed into the lab. Questions?”
James shook his head.
Dr. Lee keyed in an entry code. The door slid open, they stepped through, and the door shut behind them. The pressurization was mild—just below the level where James thought he might have to pop his ears—then the interior door opened with a swish.
The next area, labeled “Prep Room,” was a large chamber ringed with large interconnecting bubbles. Dawn was in the first bubble; she was the sole patient in the entire area. She lay recumbent with her body angled slightly downward.
James stepped to her side, reached for her hand, and stopped. He looked back at Dr. Lee. “Is it okay if I… touch her?”
“You may. She won’t break,” Dr. Lee said.
It looked as though
Dawn’s entire body was encapsulated in a skintight suit with tubing mounted at major arterial junctions. A thick translucent blanket of green hoses crisscrossed her body from shoulders to knees. A clear horseshoe-shaped intubation device barely fogged from her weak exhalations. The suit framed a circle of exposed skin around her face. She seems so pale, James thought. Almost ghostly. No… angelic. He sensed cold air falling from the blanket covering her. As he took hold of her hand, her chill ran through his fingertips, up to his heart, and down his spine.
“You’re going to freeze her,” James said. “Aren’t you?”
“It’s necessary.”
“What makes you think this will work?”
“Every person working in this underground city has voluntarily been through the same procedure. Some more than once.”
James looked directly into Dr. Lee’s eyes. Her face was open and honest.
He turned his attention back to Dawn. She hated being cold. He knew that, and he would do anything in his power to bring warmth back to her world. Until then, he would have to endure the cold loneliness of patiently waiting for the unknown.
Gently, he ran his fingers along the side of her head where there should have been long tresses of silky black hair. Then he bent and, for Dawn’s ears only, breathed, “I love you, my princess.”
With the words finally spoken, he had one thing left to do. He hoped he would someday soon pay the price for his next action. Tenderly, he laid a kiss on her exposed forehead. The cold lingered on his lips as he marveled at her peaceful beauty.
James reluctantly tore his gaze away and released her hand. “Okay. I’m ready to go now,” he said.
After they cycled through the exit airlock, Dr. Lee handed James a small envelope. “She wanted you to have this. She wrote it herself because she wanted you to know that it came from her.”
Taking the envelope as carefully as he had taken Dawn’s hand, James gave Dr. Lee a quizzical glance. “But she can’t write.”
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