'The world fell apart decades ago, I think this is normal now, ' Cara said. 'They're just trying to get by in a broken world like we are.'
'So much for the Empire creating a bright new tomorrow,' Evie said dryly as she took off her wet coat, replacing it with a white lab jacket. 'What do we have here?' She asked.
'Mutant,' Cara said. 'Looks like he tried to escape but died from exposure. Must have been on the run looking for the Stacks but never made it there.'
Evie looked at the man with a subdued expression. 'How many do they think have escaped this month?' She asked.
'This would make thirteen,' Cara said. 'Things must be getting bad the Shard.'
'And still the government do nothing to stop it,' Evie said.
'Why would they?' Cara asked. 'Men like him are valuable, they know they can do things us normal humans can't. Which means the Government will want to use them to their advantage.'
'Let me know if you find anything in his blood work,' Evie said. 'We have a report to write about any advances we've made in finding a cure for the virus.'
'The ancient virus has mutated beyond anything recognizable in modern medicine, yet our superiors believe there’s a cure. They believe it caused the mass genocide of so many Americans all those years ago, and that it created the very first mutants before they were genetically altered by advanced genetic manipulation. They really think we can find a cure when they're the ones creating their so called 'monsters'?' She asked. Evie looked at her. She had grown used to Cara's outbursts against the absurdity of their superiors, sharing her exasperation but knew that they couldn’t fight them. They both knew if they tried, Evie's secret could be uncovered. Cara sighed. 'I'll send you my results,' she said. 'I always do.’ Evie was about to leave when Cara stopped her. 'Are you prepared for tonight?'
'I will be,' Evie replied.
'Trying to convince a crowd of people that we should accept mutants as our own is going to be a tall order,' Cara said.
'But needed, if it means more people like him don't end up on our table,' she said. Cara looked down at the body in front of her and sighed.
'He was so close to freedom.'
Evie didn't respond, she simply bowing her head and went back to her office. She walked into the large room and flipped the blinds to cover the windows that looked down onto the floor below. She slipped behind her desk and turned on her computer. She saw a video message from her brother, her heart raced when she opened it.
Jack Fox was a good ten years older than Evie. Aside from the same goofy smile they shared little in common. Jack was a well-built man, his physique and attitude developed for Volt's military. Evie had always been slender, hardly athletic, even her dark brown hair contrasted from Jack's dark blonde. There were many who questioned they were even related, though Evie had done enough tests to prove they were undeniably brother and sister. Which, given their differences in profession, made life difficult.
She pulled up the video on her screen, Jack was in dark military uniform and in his bunker. His smile went a little goofy when he saw himself on the screen. 'Hey kiddo,' he said. 'Wanted to send a message on your big day,' he hesitated for a moment, looked away from the screen before his deep brown eyes flitted back to the camera. 'Be careful tonight. There's a lot of tension in Volt. Mutants are attempting to escape and campaigning for mutant rights won't go down well with the big bosses.' Evie, feeling frustrated, frowned at the screen. 'Make sure you keep yourself safe. If any mutants try and get past the sector patrol, it'll be tonight. I'm sure they'll have heard about you in the Stacks. You know if I had my way, I'd want you to be here, to be home.'
Evie's frown lessened and her frustration was replaced with guilt. She got up from her chair and walked around her office as Jack's message continued. 'Things here are tense. The President is trying to keep her stronghold and Hawk is riding everyone hard. They want you and Cara to come back.'
She looked back at the screen and saw Jack's concerned expression. 'I want you to come back. I worry about what could happen to you if someone finds you out.'
Evie paused the video and ran her hands through her hair as she walked around her office. She heard objects on her shelf shake behind her, turning to see them move on their own. She could feel the energy inside her move. She felt the objects shaking and closed her eyes willing for them to stop. They finally settled and Evie took a deep breath as dizziness swept over her. It happened unexpectedly, the way it always seemed to. She knew it wasn't normal, nor did she have an explanation for how she could cause such a phenomenon. She wasn't a mutant, she knew how they worked. But she had never been able to understand how she worked. There was a knock on the door as Cara entered.
'Are you okay?' She asked, concern creasing her brow.
'Fine,' Evie said. 'Just getting a lecture from my brother about how I should be back at home.'
Cara shut the door. 'You are home. You've lived in the Spire for the last five years, this is where you belong, where we belong.'
'We didn't choose here though,' Evie reminded her. 'We were exiled remember?'
'To be fair, the Spire isn't a bad place to be exiled to,' Cara said. 'It's much better than being behind the wire.'
'We still check in every week,' Evie reminded her. 'And it's not like our lives are our own.'
Cara was quiet, she couldn't argue. She had longed for freedom and was grasping onto whatever she could in the Spire. 'Can Jack make us go back?' She asked.
'He can't, but Hawk might be able to,' Evie said. 'If she convinces President Galen that we're needed back in Volt then we'll be out of here before we know what's happened.'
Cara sat down on one of the couches. 'I can't go back there,' she said quietly. 'I get that we're not our own people here, but at least we don't work under constant surveillance and military rule.'
Evie sat next to her. 'I'll make sure we don't have to go back,' she said. 'If tonight's speech goes well, there'll be enough investment in our research that means we get to stay.'
Cara got up and walked over to the map on Evie's wall. 'You know it was once considered a great nation,' she said to Evie as she approached. Evie looked at the outline of what used to be North America. Evie remembered their history lessons in the Shard, the soldier telling them how their world was destroyed through disasters. How other nations envied their power and attacked them. How they created the Blast that killed the communication network across the country. How President Galen's great grandfather was the savior of the land, closing borders to protect his civilians from those who wanted to attack and destroy them.
'It's still a great nation,' Evie said. 'We can't forget that.'
Cara looked at her for a moment, her face blank as she nodded. She knew the reason for Evie's patriotism. The reason why her expression was void of the usual emotion people have when talking about Galen's presidential legacy. 'You have a speech to write,' she said quietly. 'And I have a body to examine.'
'Let me know if you need help,' Evie said, Cara smiled at her before she left, and Evie looked back at the map. She looked at Volt, she thought of the States it used to be. Evie struggled to imagine what the Northeast could have been like. She remembered their teacher shouting and beating a student who once had asked the question in their geography class and she walked away from the map as she remembered seeing all the blood on the classroom floor. America may have once been a great nation, but the Empire they were living in was the best nation they had.
Evie had grown up knowing it was too dangerous to think otherwise.
Chapter Two
WHEN EVIE WALKED OUT of her office, she stopped by Cara's exam room as she was wrapping up the body. 'Did you find anything useful?' Evie asked.
'Something intriguing,' Cara said. 'His genetic makeup shows that he has mutant DNA but it's not the normal strain that we're to.'
'Meaning the genome is evolving again?' Evie asked.
'And becoming more powerful,' Cara said. 'He likely had powers that we've not seen before in any of
our other research.'
'That is intriguing,' Evie said as Cara turned off the light and they began to walk out of the office. 'It means Volt are creating mutants that are stronger, powerful. Last time they did that was when they wanted to strengthen their army.'
'No wonder Jack wants us to go home,' Cara said. 'The lab will become a target for any mutant wanting to get their hands on infusions.'
'We need to keep it on a need to know basis for now,' Evie said. 'At least until we learn more about it.'
They walked up into the main auditorium, the large room beginning to fill. She felt butterflies dance in her stomach as she looked down at the empty stage where she would stand and try to convince everyone that they shouldn't fear mutants.
'You'll be fine,' Cara told her. 'You've done this plenty of times before.'
Evie let out a deep breath and nodded. 'I'll head downstairs,' she said.
She took the route hidden from the public to get to the main stage. She stood in the wings with Astrid Jenks, one of Volt's leading journalists. Evie had grown up watching Jenks on the news and the woman hadn't changed in years. Her blonde hair was cut to a short bob, her pin stripe suit fitted just the way it should and her expression was void of any personality.
'Do you understand your objective?' Jenks asked her, skipping any unnecessary pleasantries.
Evie narrowed her eyes at her. 'Do you understand yours?' She asked.
'Do you always have to be this difficult?' Jenks asked.
'I have to have some fun,' Evie said.
Jenks shook her head in disbelief. 'Scientists,' she muttered. 'Just don't do anything that contradicts Galen’s message, and try to come across as nice, people will listen better if they like you.'
Evie didn't say anything, not trusting herself to be civil. Jenks was all about propaganda. Which was why there had been no other media outlet in Volt for the last several decades. Galen had declared all other media providers posed a significant threat to her Presidential rule. She only wanted the writers who would sell what she wanted to be shared and Jenks was ready for that challenge. Evie looked out to the stage, the lights dimmed and a hush fell over the audience. Jenks took a moment before she walked out to the main stage welcomed by a loud applause. Despite the woman being insufferable, she was undeniably popular.
'Good evening ladies and gentlemen,' Jenks said into the microphone. 'We'll start tonight's proceedings with a message from our esteemed leader. Please rise for President Galen.'
The audience got to their feet looking at the screen as the Presidential music filled the auditorium. The shot opened to one of the rooms in Galen's mansion, located in the center of the State. She was sat on a gold-plated chair with a velvet red cushion. Her light blonde hair was tied back into a tight bun, reflecting on her gray skirt suit. Her pale blue eyes stared down at the camera, they made Evie's stomach squirm. Those blue eyes had witnessed moments in her life that Evie wished she could forget. She couldn't escape from the darkness that lingered behind them. Her face had begun to show signs of her age, her pursed lips and sour demeanor was well practiced over the decades, refusing to change.
'Good evening,' she said. 'Tonight's event is one of significance as we continue to make breakthroughs in genetic research,' she said. 'For decades, we have been fighting a bio-genetic war that attacked us after our country had suffered so much. This new attack was sent to wipe us out and killed millions. Then the genetics changed and humans began to evolve into something even more dangerous. After the uprising laws were put in place so that the mutants could never launch another deadly attack against us. The research that's being conducted in The Institute is helping create a safer place for us all. Without Dr Fox and her team, mutants would be evolving and attacking us with powers that we have no way of combatting. Dr. Fox is helping create a safer Empire for decades to come. A safe Empire, and a safe future.'
The message ended to enthusiastic applause, Jenks smiled as she turned back to the crowd. ‘Join me in welcoming Dr Fox,' she said. The applause continued as Evie walked over to Jenks, her hands trembling slightly. She placed her notes on the Dias and looked out to the crowd. Judging from their clothes, she could tell they were mainly people from the upper-class division of Volt. Their clothes eccentric and brightly colored, the women wearing make-up to match and the men in sharp suits, all looking back at her. They were the type of people who could afford to come to a public lecture. The type of people who security would let in. Evie found herself momentarily think of her parents. The ragged clothes that they wore, the dirt that constantly clung to the fabric that was thin and fraying from working in the rice fields, parents who starved so that she and Jack could eat.
Evie cleared her throat. 'Nano-genetics are shaping our future as we evolve,' she began. 'Our leader, President Galen has been aiding this research so that we can continue to be the best nation,' she said looking over to Jenks, who nodded in approval. The cloying words weren't her own, they were ones perpetrated for a cause that she didn’t believe in. Even in a city away from the Capitol, one wrong word could have dangerous consequences. 'When we were attacked by the East, they infected our people with an enhanced virus that resulted in DNA mutating and turning harmless civilians into monsters. Our new enemies were people who were in our neighborhoods, in our schools. They became changed by a force that should never have come to be. During the dark days, these mutated humans fought with our leader's army. Millions of innocent people were killed during one of the Empire's deadliest civil wars as mutants began to rise against humans. When we captured some of the mutants who were more notorious, we were able to study their DNA and find what made them different from humans. By extracting key genome, brave soldiers volunteered to become test subjects. To see how we could utilize the foreign DNA to build genetically advanced soldiers that would defend us from both mutants and foreign attacks.' There was a cheer to this part of history. Evie had included it as she knew hearing the story that they had all grown up listening to, would be enough to capture their attention. To listen to what she had to say. 'Nano-genetics were first manufactured in the old world, manufactured and released to the human population through a virus that couldn’t be controlled. A virus that is extra-terrestrial in origin,' she said as she brought up a map of old America. She knew this was risky, any material used from the old world that was banned would be enough to see her arrested, talking about the invasions was enough to get a public beating, or worse. She could see Jenks shift in her feet as she was readying herself to end the presentation, but Evie’s memories were enough for her to know it was time to speak out.
Outside commuters were heading home. The city was quieter than normal as the rain fell over the metallic buildings. The sound of a truck rumbled a few blocks away from the Institute, and James Kingsley pulled to a stop at the lights. The dark-skinned man looked out at the city in front of him, the one he had come to years ago after he had first escaped from the lab that created him. He had come here in search of freedom, in search of a life that he had always been told was possible. That all mutants were being told was possible through hushed whispers that floated through Volt's underbelly. He could feel energy coursing through his veins, it pulsated underneath the tattoos that adorned his arms and made his deep brown eyes glow with specks of gold. He propped his tablet up on the car seat next to him and punched in the keys. A small triangular hologram lit up as Kit Valletta's face shimmered into view.
'Chief,' he said with a broad smile.
'You're back in the border?' She asked him.
'Managed to get back through early this morning. The squad bribed a couple guards,' Kingsley said. 'They're getting tougher though.'
'Either that or your charm's off its game,' Kit smiled.
'My charm's never off,' Kinsley said as he drove around the corner towards the Institute. 'I'm here,' he said, showing her the building.
'Alto sector wants you to attack this place?' Kit asked.
'They conduct experiments on us here,' Kingsley told her.
'They're using us to try and work against our army.'
'The whole of Volt is working against us,' Kit reminded him. 'It doesn't mean that you have to risk yourself for the cause.'
'What if they're planning to come after you?' Kingsley asked. 'Alto have intelligence that shows that the Stacks are at risk. People in this city people here are deciding whether or not that attack should go ahead. If they can't make that decision then we’re not at risk.'
'This isn't how I like my army to conduct itself,' Kit said.
'This isn't your army. Or your order,' Kingsley said. 'It's Alto's and I'm their soldier.'
Kit looked at him with pained eyes. A look that shot through him every time he saw it. 'Then I can't stop you,' she said. 'And I can't be your backup.'
Kingsley looked up from the screen and saw soldiers were getting into formation around the building. 'I gotta go.’
'Take care brother,' Kit said and he looked at her for a moment before he ended the call.
He got out of the truck and walked over to the soldiers. The Freedom State Army trained its soldiers well, Kingsley looked at the other Death Marks and knew the damage that they could cause. His Commander came over to him. Kaeden Nunea was a tall and well-built man. He had tattoos that snaked up his white neck, the swirls and intricate dots had been added over his time as a soldier, and as he gained more power. Kingsley felt his ego subdue in his presence, knowing better than to try and be smart with a man of Kaeden's rank and prestige. 'How does it feel to be back on home turf?' He asked.
'Alto is my home,' Kingsley told him.
Kaeden nodded approvingly. 'You know the mission?'
'Affirmative,'
'Let’s move out,' Kaeden ordered, and they surrounded the Institute.
Unaware of the men outside, Evie had continued her speech. 'Genetic modification has become crucial for human survival,' she said. 'Everyone in this room has had some exposure to this. But for those who have extra-terrestrial DNA, they pose the greatest threat. Which is why our work has to continue.'
Rogue (Convergence Series Book 1) Page 2
