Gene. Sys.

by Garcia, Aaron Denius

  “Nope. I’m having too much fun fighting,” he responds.

  “I think Ox should do the sweep,” K adds. “After what he did to that drone, they might think twice about standing in his way. I can start in the middle.”

  “That sounds like a plan. Are you ready?” I ask. Their reaction isn’t quite what I want. I want them to scream.

  “What are we?” I demand.

  “Genesys?” Sil mutters.

  “Come on. We are smarter! Faster! Stronger!” I shout. “Who are we?!”

  “Genesys!” They all yell.

  K grabs the ball and we take off in the same formation as before. The drones charge at us as they did before. We collide into them and I ram hard into the drone in front of me. We both fall to the ground.

  As we grapple on the field, I hear a loud roar come from the scientists’ side of the field. I look up and I see Ox running alone with the ball towards the drones’ pit. A couple of drones chase after him, but they aren’t fast enough.

  Ox drops the ball into the pit and yells. Just as I stand to cheer, I feel a hard kick to my thigh. I’m too excited to care so I push the drone away and head towards my side of the field.

  I get back to a cheering group and I high five a few of them. “Be ready everyone. The second they grab the ball we start. Be smart and use your speed.”

  The second I turn around I see that 80 has already taken the ball out of their pit and they are weaving in and out of each other towards us. As they weave they pass the ball back and forth amongst themselves.

  “Let’s go, guys! Spread out and don’t let anyone get behind you!” I run off towards the middle and the rest of the Genesys spread out to my left and right.

  This go around there is a lot less contact and more passing by the drones. A couple of times we just barely miss getting the ball.

  “Now!” 80 yells.

  Instantly all the drones drop and roll at our legs, knocking us down. I manage to keep some of my balance and fall to my hands. I push myself up quickly and look around. 80 is running straight at our pit.

  I kick the drone who rolled in front of me in the stomach to make sure he doesn’t get up, and then I take off towards 80. I catch up to him pretty fast but, just as I tackle him, he passes the ball to another drone charging from the other side.

  Right before he catches it, I see Mag launch herself at the chest of the approaching drone and knock him hard to the ground. The ball bounces off them and back towards 80 and I.

  We jump up to our feet and I grab 80 by his right arm. I spin and fling him in the opposite direction. The ball bounces a few feet away from me so I pick it up and look out at the playing field. A few fights are happening in the center, but I notice Cal and Sodi are relatively unengaged. Sodi is to my far left and Cal to my right.

  “Sodi! Cal!” I yell, signaling them to run towards the opposite pit. They take off and I hurl the ball towards the pit.

  Both Cal and Sodi have no trouble outpacing their accompanying drones. Cal gets to the ball first and when the drone trailing Sodi peels off towards him, he passes her the ball. She drops the ball in the pit, igniting a roar of cheers from the scientists.

  Just as Cal turns to walk back, 13 levels him with a shoulder to his head. Cal immediately gets up and throws a punch at 13, connecting with his jaw. They attack each other, causing the drones and the Genesys to run over and break them up. Al and Sodi pull a screaming Cal away. A few drones hold 13 back.

  80 and I, being so far away, only get to midfield when the fight is broken up. 80 steps up to me and puts his arm on my shoulder.

  “You having fun?” He smiles.

  “You guys created an insane game.” I smile back.

  “Oh we didn’t come up with it. Grant and Rene did to help weed out the weakest among us. We just learned to enjoy it,” he says.

  It really shouldn’t surprise me that this was made by Rene to get rid of the weakest, but Grant’s involvement has me bewildered. I feel the anger towards Rene resurface because of his constant mistreatment and indifference towards the drones.

  “It’s two to two.” I change the subject. I need to focus on the game.

  “Yup. Next point wins,” he says as he catches me off guard and pushes me to the ground. He winks at me and runs off towards his pit.

  The other Genesys have caught up to me and we jog back to our pit. When we get there, I walk right up to Mag and give her a giant hug. “That was amazing!”

  “Hell yeah it was!” Ev adds. The rest of the Genesys congratulate her as well with hugs and high fives.

  Ox walks up to her last, takes her in his arms and kisses the top of her head. The rest of us quiet down as we witness this exchange. It’s certainly surprising.

  “Let’s focus. They can be starting any moment.” I try to break the awkward silence.

  “Hey Atom, what if I hide in the pit to give us added protection?” Fe asks.

  “Actually, that’s brilliant.” I smile at her. I can feel Ev chiding me with her eyes.

  Fe drops into the pit and is instantly hidden so well that I can barely see her. The rest of us spread out along the field. After checking to make sure that we are all in position, I look up and see the drones making their way to us.

  They are running in a single file line down the middle of the field. They are so closely packed together that it’s hard to see which one of them has the ball.

  “Titan. K. Ev. Al. Stay wide in case any of them peel off,” I order. “The rest of us will attack the line from the front.”

  The four of us take off towards the line. Ox takes the lead with Hydro, Sil, Sodi, Cal and me right behind him. Ox rams into the first drone, knocking him back into the two drones behind him. Hydro attacks the drones that Ox knocked over to help keep them down. Two drones from the middle peel off to the sides and I catch the Genesys on the wings tending to them.

  Cal, Sil, and Sodi sprint ahead and take on the next few drones. They flip them to the ground and add a couple of kicks. That leaves the last two drones for me. 13 is right in front of 80. I sprint and plant my feet on the ground, launching myself into the air over 13. When I’m above him, I grab his head and use my momentum to flip him as I fall to the ground.

  I fling him at 80 and hear gasps from the crowd around the field. 80 sidesteps 13 as he lands and launches the ball towards our pit. When I turn to look, I see that one of the drones Ox knocked down has gotten back up and is running alone towards our pit.

  Mag hobbles away from the pit to try to challenge the drone and when the ball arrives they both jump. Unfortunately, Mag has an injured leg, so she can’t jump as high. The drone manages to grab the ball from a higher point and as he lands he knocks Mag to the ground.

  The drone trots to our pit, but just before he gets there, Fe charges out of the pit and slams her shoulder into his stomach. The ball falls out of his hands and Fe runs to retrieve it.

  She looks around and throws it to Titan, who is open along the right sideline. A drone charges at him and Titan hands the ball off to K, who runs past him and towards the middle. Ox, Sodi, Sil, Hydro, and Cal have created a barricade by linking arms together and are holding a few drones back.

  “Go, Atom!” Ev screams as she approaches from the left with Al. They knock 80 and 13 to the ground.

  I see the opening and peel off around the left side. K throws the ball in my direction and I catch it in stride. A drone chases after me, but I stay a couple of steps ahead of him. Suddenly, I see 80 closing in to my right. I look back and don’t see another Genesys open, so I decide I have to do things on my own.

  Before I can make another decision, the drone who had been behind me sweeps my legs out from underneath me. He must have dived at my legs. I slam right on top of the ball and it knocks the wind out of me. Struggling to breathe, I reach for the ball just as 80 reaches me. In a last ditch effort I push the ball in the direction of the drones’ pit.

  The ball bounces and rolls, slowing down as it gets closer to the pit. 80 has turne
d and is chasing the ball, gaining quickly. The entire crowd has gone silent and we all watch as the ball inches closer to the pit. 80 dives for the ball, barely missing it with his fingers. On its last rotation, the ball falls into the pit.

  The Genesys and all the scientists cheer. I get up and run to the center of the field, where the Genesys have gathered. Ox carries Mag to the center to join us.

  “Genesys! Genesys!” Cal starts chanting. In a matter of seconds, the rest of us join in. A few moments later, the scientists are also chanting.

  I look back to see the drones leaving the field. 80, however, is walking towards us.

  “What does he want?” Titan says, standing next to me.

  “Don’t know.” I step away to meet 80 a few feet from the group.

  “Good game, Atom.” He extends his hand.

  I take it and shake his hand. “Yes it was. Thanks for letting us do this. I think it helped bring us together.”

  “You got it.” He smiles. “Listen, do you have time to talk?”

  I look to the sidelines and see that the majority of the scientists are leaving. I steer my gaze to the Genesys and see them celebrating amongst themselves.

  “Sure. Give me a second.” I jog back to the group.

  “What’s up?” Fe asks.

  “Hey, everyone. Great job!” I ignore Fe’s question. “I will catch up to you guys in a little bit. Take Mag to Dr. Peters to get checked over and then we can have our celebration in the medical ward.”

  I jog back to 80 before any of the Genesys can say anything.

  “Do you mind if we walk?” 80 asks.

  “Sure, where to?” I respond.

  He walks towards the outer wall, which is now made up of piles of rubble. I pick up my pace and walk next to him.

  “I’m going to be sore tomorrow,” I say.

  “Yes you will be.” He smiles at me.

  “So what’s up?” I pry.

  “Well, I…” He keeps walking and I can tell by his face that he is searching for what he wants to say. I choose to remain quiet until he finds the words.

  We reach the edge of the compound pretty quickly and climb up to the top of one of the rubble piles. When I look out, I see that there is still a lot of activity going on in the city where the outsiders are. There are multiple Flyz hovering above the city and I can hear some shots in the distance. Behind everything is the giant structure that 80 and I once ran to. The Great Pyramid of Giza.

  “Want to run to the pyramid again?” I ask, only half joking. I actually would love to see it up close again.

  80 looks at me and smiles. He takes a deep breath. “Is Rene still going through with the Ragnarok?”

  I see the pain in his eyes, but I can’t lie to him. “Yes. I don’t know when though.”

  “Do you think he would reconsider?” he asks.

  “No. His mind seems pretty set.” I frown.

  “What if you asked him? He’d listen to you,” he pushes further.

  “I’ve tried. Many times. Honestly, I kind of agree with what he’s doing.” I instantly wish I hadn’t said that.

  “That’s what I was afraid of.” 80 looks off towards the pyramid.

  “I’m sorry, 80.” A knot tightens in my chest.

  “It’s okay. Please understand; I don’t want to die.” A tear streaks down his cheek. This is not something I would ever have expected from him when we first met. In fact, I would have never had expected it from any drone. Now they all seem capable of it.

  “I know you don’t.” I try to comfort him. “I don’t want you to.”

  “But if Rene sets off the Ragnarok, it will happen.” he states.

  “Yeah.” I look out towards the pyramid as well. Tears begin to roll down my face as I realize that one of the first friends I made won’t survive. It doesn’t make sense, but, as Rene says, it’s for the greater good.

  We sit in silence for a few more minutes. I smile slightly, recalling the chicken that he had gone back to get us.

  “I should probably go back inside.” I stand.

  “Alright,” he says without looking at me.

  I put my hand on his shoulder. “You are a great friend, 80.”

  He looks up and smiles at me. The tears have cleaned a path on his dirty face. I climb down the rubble pile.

  “Atom!” he yells after me. I stop and look back up at him. He’s staring towards the pyramid again. “I don’t want to die. Please understand.”

  I bow my head and walk off towards the medical ward.

  17

  I reach the exterior wall to the medical ward and see that the hole that used to be in the wall has been covered by a giant plastic tarp. I can hear a celebration going on inside, but my mind is still preoccupied with the conversation I had with 80. I really wish there was a way that he could survive. Rene, however, said that each bunker could only hold two people and that they only built enough for the twelve Genesys.

  I pull my focus back towards the medical ward and I do my best to shake off the negative thoughts. My plan to bring the Genesys closer together seems to have worked and I want to revel in our triumph. I push the tarp aside and step through.

  The Genesys are all gathered in the open space in the middle and are enjoying a feast of vegetables and fruit. I see Dr. Cicca, Dr. Kivuli and Rene off to the side, they seem to be enjoying themselves as well. I’m not particularly keen on seeing Dr. Kivuli here, but if she’s here we can keep an eye on her.

  “Atom! You have to try this!” Al throws me what I have recently learned is a strawberry.

  I catch it and toss it into my mouth. It tastes so much better than the strawberry protein pouches. The rest of the Genesys open up the group and invite me in.

  Hydro steps up to me. “I’ve been filling them in on what all these fruits and vegetables are. Dr. Cicca brought them to us.”

  “Awesome!” I put my arm around her shoulder. I grab the next closest Genesys, which happens to be Sil, and put my other arm around his shoulder. He flinches at first, but then lets my arm stay.

  Fe steps up to me with a big smile. “That game was so much fun!”

  “Yes it was!” I respond and then peel away to talk to Ev. As I walk towards her I notice that Ox and Mag are missing.

  “How’s 80?” Ev asks.

  “He’s good,” I respond.

  “Anything important? Did he report any weird meetings?” She looks at me. I notice that she is probably enjoying this celebration less than anyone else.

  “I forgot to ask.” It actually hadn’t even crossed my mind. I’m sure if there was something 80 would have told me.

  “Mmhmm.” She furrows her brow.

  “Where are Mag and Ox?” I change the subject.

  Ev points to the room where I had spent my recovery time. Ox is sitting next to an operating table. On the table, under the glass cover, I can faintly make out Mag’s red hair. Working on the glass cover is Dr. Metzger.

  “Where is Dr. Peters?” I look at Ev.

  “Don’t know,” she says dismissively.

  “So Mag and Ox, huh?” I smile and nudge her playfully with my elbow. I want her to lighten up.

  “Yeah,” she says as she turns away and rejoins the group.

  I really don’t know why Ev is so upset with me. Fe was the one who kissed me. I did like it though and I like Fe, but I also like Ev. Did Rene tell her that she and I are supposed to be together?

  “Hey leader!” I hear Titan’s voice shout. Right when I turn, a tomato hits me in the chest.

  The Genesys all laugh, including Ev, and within seconds, we are all throwing food at each other. For the next few hours we joke around and laugh. Dr. Cicca has brought some music as well, so we jump around and dance. I really like Dr. Cicca. I wish I had her as a teacher earlier.

  One by one the Genesys get tired and head off to bed. I can feel the soreness starting to hit my body and my yawns let me know that I should probably get to bed myself. I decide to head over to the room where Ox and Mag are before
I leave.

  I poke my head in. “Hey, Ox, how is she?”

  He lifts his head from his hands and I can tell that sleep is not too far off for him as well. “She fractured her leg, but she’ll be fine. She has to be in there for a couple of days for it to heal.”

  “She’s a tough one.” I smile.

  “Yes she is.” He smiles back. “I think I’m going to stay in here tonight and keep her company.”

  “I’m sure she will appreciate that.” I step back out of the room. The two of them do seem to be a good match.

  When I turn back to the open room, I see a couple of drones cleaning up our mess and I see Fe standing by the exit alone. I walk up to her.

  “You didn’t have to wait,” I say.

  “I wanted to,” she responds. “We haven’t spent much time together since the attack.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ve just been busy. There has been a lot going on.” I push through the exit and walk into the hallway.

  She catches up and links her arm with mine. “Like what?”

  “I really can’t talk about it,” I answer.

  She stops and crosses her arms. “Why can’t you tell me?”

  I sigh. “Listen. Ev and I have been working on a project that is very important and I have to spend a lot of time on it.”

  “Oh,” she says flatly. I can see that her eyes are getting watery. She walks down the hallway.

  I catch up to her and fall into stride. “I’m sorry.”

  “You already said that.” She stops walking again. “Do you like me?”

  “Yes. I do.” Why do I keep getting asked this? I look into her eyes and take a deep breath. I know that what I’m about to say isn’t going to sit well with her. “Now is just not the time for this.”

  I reach for her hand but she pulls it away. She struggles hard to hold the tears back. “Because of what you are doing with Ev?

  “Yes.” I bite my inner lip. I didn’t mean to say that so I try to course correct. “That’s part of it. The Ragnarok is coming soon and I need to make sure that we are all ready and that everything will go as planned.”

  She stares at me through her water-glazed eyes. I can see hurt and sadness behind them. This is not at all what I intended. I do like her but it is not the time for me to be thinking about her or Ev, or which one I like more. I wish they would both understand that.