Genetic Drift

by Martin Schulte

  Ben slammed on the brakes and came to a screeching halt. The sudden push forward woke up Marcus and threw Barron to the floor. “What’s going on Ben,” Marcus said as he rubbed his neck. Barron emerged from the floorboards slightly dazed to see Ben pointing to Alan’s SUV.

  “There she is,” Ben said, waving his finger.

  Ben slowly crept toward where the vehicle lay still and Marcus readied his gun for any resistance. Barron transferred from the back to the driver’s seat just in case a quick getaway was required. Marcus swiftly joined Ben and they approached the SUV in formation. He had let Maddie go with Alan once and he was not going to let it happen again. They saw a body dangling off of the dashboard and Zeke’s head was tilted to his left, mouth agape, in his seat.

  Ben and Marcus came up to the front of the vehicle and then split to each side. They quickly lifted their guns, ready to engage at the slightest movement.

  “Looks dead,” Marcus observed. Ben nudged Zeke with his muzzle and Zeke didn’t budge. Marcus continued toward the back and saw Alan’s head slouched over his body, a hole from an orbitizer shot gaping in his chest.

  “She’s okay,” Marcus relaxed as he told Ben. Ben looked in from his side to see the top of Alan’s body.

  Ben looked at Marcus, “Where is she?” Ben didn’t see her and came around to Marcus’ side.

  As he approached, Marcus told him, “She’s not here.” He pointed to Alan’s chest.

  Ben looked for a second and turned around. He lowered his gun and started yelling, “Maddie!” He waited for a reply.

  Marcus joined in calling out for her, “Maddie!” No response again.

  Barron noticed that they were safe and joined them. They continued to call for Maddie but she was nowhere around.

  “Maybe she walked, maybe she got a ride,” Marcus said as he thought through the possibilities.

  Barron added, “Maybe she got abducted by aliens,” as he tried to lighten the mood.

  Marcus shook his head, “Your timing really sucks for punchlines.”

  Ben told the others, “We have to keep moving, perhaps we’ll see her on our way to Kentucky.”

  Barron looked at him, “We can’t abandon her.”

  Marcus spoke with reason in his voice, “We can’t stay out here looking for her either. If we stay out here, then we’re at risk of meeting another set of Trolls.”

  Barron nodded in agreeance, “You’re right.” He started to walk back to the car, dejected. Marcus and Ben were quick to follow.

  Before they entered the car, Marcus looked at Ben, “She’ll be fine, she’s a survivor.” He was trying to assure himself more than comfort Ben.

  The car started up and the group was on the road again. They drove for 10 miles and spotted a person walking on the side of the highway. “No way,” Marcus cracked a smile, “I can’t believe it.”

  Maddie heard the sound of an approaching car and Marcus rolled down his window. “You need a ride to Kentucky?”

  Maddie looked at him and kept walking, “No thanks, I’m headed someplace else.” Ben pulled ahead and stopped the car.

  Marcus opened the door and immediately walked up to Maddie, “Where are you going?” he asked as she continued to walk.

  “I’m looking for my friends,” Maddie replied, showing her determination. Barron and Ben caught up to the pair.

  Marcus continued, “Do you even know where they are?”

  Maddie stopped and faced Marcus, “No,” she took a deep breath, “but I know where to start looking.” She pointed to the south and said, “The last place we were together was up there. There will be clues in the cabin.” Marcus, Barron, and Ben hadn’t seen the blue orb disintegrate her hand but as she pointed to the mountains, they noticed the sun glisten off of the metallic hue of her gray hand. Maddie dropped her arm and continued to walk.

  Barron was the quickest to ask, “What happened to your hand?”

  Maddie kept walking, “It was shot off when we were leaving Charlottesville. I woke up in the back of the SUV and it was growing back.” She looked at her hand again, “I guess I was turned into a lizard.” Ben wanted to hear her story but noticed that they were walking too far away from the car and doubled back.

  Barron thought back to what Mac had told him in private after Maddie’s blood was tested. Barron did not realize the importance of that information at the time or understand what Mac was telling him. Mac had two phones at Happy Paws just as Alan had two at militia headquarters. His second line was connected to a research laboratory that had more specialized tests than a normal lab. This research facility was located in the same hospital in Charlottesville where the normal blood panels were run. Mac had confided in Barron that Maddie was infested with some genetically engineered cells. He told him that her cells and the altered cells acted together but further observation was required. Barron was told that if anything should happen to Mac, he would give this knowledge to Maddie.

  Barron asked Maddie, “Don’t you want to get your hand checked out?”

  She faced forward and continued on her way, “Yes, but after I finish this.”

  Marcus couldn’t find a reason to dissuade her and knew that she wouldn’t budge on finding out about her past. He looked at her and surrendered to her will, “If you’re set on this then we’re going with you.”

  She was focused and her determination to find her friends hardened with every step. She was glad that Marcus was volunteering and responded, “Thanks.”

  Ben drove up along the side of the highway and Marcus turned to him, “We’re going to Maddie’s cabin.”

  Sensing that there was no other alternative, Ben informed the group, “You know there’s a faster way to get up there, right?” Marcus and Barron went straight to the car but Maddie hesitated. Ben assured her that he was going to be true to his word, “Come on in, we’re taking you there.” Barron was already in the car and Marcus waited with the door open, inviting her in. She knew these were the only people in the world that she could trust.

  400,000 YEARS BEFORE THEIR ARRIVAL

  THE SYRSYRIANS

  THE 6TH PLANET ORBITING GAMMA CRUCIS

  The planet of Syrsyria had gone through ages of war. Not until the Syrsyrian people prevailed through war did the planet find peace. For over a millennium, the Syrsyrians were able to rule the planet with their way of life. It was a time short-lived in relation to the life of their host star. Scientists on the planet had observed the star starting to redden and expand. They knew that they had a limited time before the planet would be gone and the Syrsyrians could either die with the planet or find a new home.

  The Great Expansion was a project introduced by the Syrsyrian leaders. It was an initiative set forth to save the history and possibly the people by exiting their solar system and finding a new home. The initiative had three objectives:

  To be able to travel through space for thousands of years and find a new planet to establish as a home.

  To be able to protect themselves from any foreseeable enemy and to be able to eliminate any possible competition to their lives.

  To be able to preserve their history and the Syrsyrian race.

  Great scientists worked for years on the initiatives. Each strived to be the savior of the Syrsyrian people. The first breakthrough was a spaceship able to conduct interstellar travel.

  Theta was the first one to generate this breakthrough. Theta, in Syrsyrian history, was called the Great Engineer. He designed the interstellar spaceship called the Ellipse. Its design was largely based on an initial boost to exit the system and drift through the arms of their spiral galaxy. The spaceship was equipped with receivers to collect any form of communication. Upon collecting communication that it deemed to originate from a habitable source, its secondary boost would direct the Ellipse to the source. Three phases would commence in succession upon arrival.

  During the first phase, the spaceship would launch defense pods in order to establish areas of protection. At the onset of the second phase, cons
truction pods would be released to build or terraform structures needed to sustain life. Habitability pods, the third phase, would bring the Syrsyrians to their new home. The construction of the spaceship began.

  With the first objective successfully tackled, the second objective was initiated. The goal of protection was harder to complete since modern Syrsyrians were so far removed from warfare. It had been so long since they had met an organism that they had to make an effort to conquer. But there would always be ingenious design when it came to “ways to kill.”

  Phi and Psi, the Death Duo in Syrsyrian history, contributed a gun that worked as no other before. The gun contained a strong magnetic field that trapped antimatter in its core. The shooter was able to control the length of each expenditure as well as its speed of release. With a magnetic pulse, the gun would force out antimatter. If it was set to a large length, the ejection would come out as a ball at high speed or a net at low speeds. With a small length, pellets were expended at slow speeds and needles when it was set faster. No matter the setting, contact with its target would result in nothingness as the antimatter cancelled the matter. The gun created emptiness. The newly designed guns were prepared for Syrsyrian troop use and outfitted on the spaceship as it was being constructed.

  The last objective was tackled by Tau, or Father Time. He designed the means for eternal life. His nanocytes were the perfect genetic cells. They were able to copy genetic coding and replace any dead or destroyed cells in the organism in which they resided, even pets. They were also capable of communicating and working together to solve complex problems at a genetic level. If a nanocyte were to become too old, a small child nanocyte would split from the elder cell and mature. The nanocytes maintained a high survivability rate because Father Time also designed a life sustaining mixture of amino acids to keep them fed during the long expedition. Lastly, the nanocytes were coded to be easily identifiable by biometrics.

  This was the last piece of the puzzle needed to complete the Great Expansion. The blue vats of amino acids were installed on the spaceship and the nanocytes were injected. Biometric systems were incorporated on all computer systems and the newly designed guns to restrict their uses to only Syrsyrians. The completed construction of the spaceship meant all objectives had been met.

  The heat from the approaching solar surface began to sear the planet and a lottery was established for one billion of the 40 billion people of Syrsyria. Winners of the lottery were selected and injected with the nanocytes. They were screened for abnormalities and once cleared, sent into space. Each winner was placed in their own vat to ensure a constant flow of nanocytes, amino acids, and filtration for body-produced wastes. One Syrsyrian, Omega, lived in squalor his entire life and was the last to be admitted onto the Ellipse. Omega was not cleared for travel because the Syrsyrian was injected with too many nanocytes. But in the madness and stress of getting the Ellipse loaded, his denial was forgotten and he was able to enter the spaceship.

  Historical documents, plants and animals for food, pets and Syrsyrians were all placed on the Ellipse. When the loading of the spaceship was finally completed, it faced outward from the star and began its initial boost, leaving the planet behind. Before it entered into interstellar space, Syrsyria and all of its inhabitants were swallowed by its sun. No Syrsyrian ever saw it happen. Those who were on the planet had already died from the heat and the ones who were on the spaceship were in hibernation. The memory of the last moments of Syrsyria was only located in one place, saved in the computer system files of the Ellipse.

  DAY 279

  THE PAST REVISITED

  NELLYSFORD, VIRGINIA

  Maddie stood in front of the cabin where she and her friends had spent winter break nearly a year ago. The men accompanying her stood behind to let her have her time. She scanned the outside of the cabin but did not see any signs of a struggle. The cabin had been neglected, weeds had taken over the hedges and the walls were covered in dirt. Leaves were overhanging the gutters and she could not see through the windows. She walked toward the entrance. As she stepped on the wooden exterior deck, the door appeared shut. She approached the door and gave it a simple push. A creak sounded from the hinges as the door slowly opened.

  The inside of the cabin looked nothing like the unused exterior appearance. The coffee table where they had congregated was overturned and the chairs were flipped over. She walked into the living room and looked around. She eyed the room where she had slept the night she went missing. The door was open and she could see her bed. Her blanket was pulled askew, creating a bridge to the floor. She continued her scan to Bryce’s room and it showed more of a struggle. The nightstand lay on the floor with the face of the drawer detached on one side and a light sitting next to it.

  Her next focus was on the kitchen. It seemed untouched. Bryce’s bread had turned to a bag of mush a long time ago. Her eyes went to Damien’s room and his door was wide open with an unmade bed. She continued to Catelyn’s room but stopped when she saw two decayed bodies on the floor. She moved straight for the spot. “Please, don’t let it be them,” she whispered under her breath. Her mind was hoping and hoping that it wasn’t who she thought it was.

  As time and mother nature had taken their course, the months had not been kind to the bodies. The pests that invaded the house during the summer had left their mark and the bodies were nothing but bones covered with tattered pajamas. She knew those pajamas. She knew that these were the bodies of Catelyn and Damien. She stared at the cadavers as tears began to swell, “What did they do to you?” A skeleton with no bones above the collar bone was on her left and the other one was missing half of its rib cage. Tears burst from her eyes as her hands covered her face. “I can’t believe this,” her voice strained in a high pitch.

  Barron walked beside her and gently put his hand on her back. She quickly jerked away from him and kept him behind her. She didn’t want to be near anyone. He walked beside her again and she went toward Bryce’s room to keep her face hidden from Barron. Understanding that it wasn’t the time to console her, Barron walked back to the deck and waited for her to finish her investigation.

  Maddie stood at the doorway to Bryce’s room and began to search for any clues as to what happened to him. She looked around the door. Nothing. The nightstand. Nothing. The closet. Nothing. She looked at the bed. She walked to it slowly. And then she started to violently rip off the sheets. She screamed, “Where are you? Where are you?” Dust flew as she jumped onto the bed and knelt still with her head forced into the mattress.

  Barron turned to Ben and Marcus as they stood on the other side of the deck, “I don’t think she is going to find anything to help her in there.”

  “Probably not, it’s been a long time. She’ll have to come to terms with ‘what is’ and move on,” Marcus answered.

  “So are we going to Kentucky after this?” Barron asked. Ben was tapping his fingers on the rail. He was looking down at the motion of his fingers.

  “It’s our best option. Actually, it’s our only option,” he said.

  Maddie regained her composure and walked out of the cabin.

  “I’m ready to go,” she said with a hint of sadness in her voice. The men began to walk down the steps of the deck. Stopping suddenly, Maddie threw her arms up and cried out, “I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do.” Marcus turned around. He knew what it was like. It had only taken a few minutes for his world to be ripped apart. He looked at her and a well of compassion filled him.

  “Maddie, everyone has had nine months to come to terms with what you have found out in the past few days. We have all lost someone, everyone on this planet has lost someone that they knew,” Marcus said, and the voice of reason came out.

  “If you really want to know what you are supposed to do.”

  “If you really want to find your answers.”

  “Then you need to go to Kentucky.”

  “You should join the people who have more resources than an old beater car and a cabin in the woods.
The people who are working to fight against these Trolls. The people who will help you get revenge against them.”

  Marcus was showing his disdain and a yearning to avenge the death of his family. Maddie looked at Marcus and bowed her head in acceptance. Marcus was right. She didn’t have any leads in the cabin, only the pain of knowing that her friends were dead.

  There was silence as they entered the car. They made it to the highway but nightfall was coming soon and they would need to stop.

  200,000 YEARS BEFORE THE ARRIVAL

  THE FIRST MUTATION

  THE ELLIPSE

  Gamma Crucis was a small red speck. The monitoring system onboard the Ellipse watched as the star grew and slowly consumed its sixth plant. It recorded the history of the planet as the rock melted into the once generous sun. The Ellipse was completely unaware of the heat that killed the bodies, warped buildings, and enflamed the surface. The star absorbed the planet and the tiny blob on its surface served as a brief second of fuel.

  The Ellipse continued on its trek and ventured light years from its host star. All systems were normal as the nanocytes floated through the preservation systems. The computer system oversaw safe navigation, the planetary search, and the maintenance of over a billion blue vats containing Syrsyrians, animals, and plants from the home planet.

  The nanocytes were not colored when they were created. They had taken a blue hue since feeding only on the amino acids placed in the vats. That color had transferred to the Syrsyrians as well. As each cell in those bodies was replaced with a nanocyte, every Syrsyrian was covered in patches as their color changed from their natural brownish color to blue.