Sixth Extinction

Chapter 2

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?'

'Something intriguing,' Cara said. 'His genetic makeup shows he has Genic DNA but it's not the normal strain we're used to.'

'Meaning the genome is evolving again?' Evie asked.

'And becoming more powerful,' Cara said. 'He likely had powers we've not seen in any of our other research.'

'That is intriguing. Any way we could find out what powers they were?’

Cara turned off the light and they walked out of the office. ‘I can try and see but it’s not likely, powers are only active if the person is active.’

Evie nodded. 'So, Volt are creating Genics 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 Genic wanting to get their hands-on infusions, the stronger they make them the worse it is for the body to handle.’

Evie felt her stomach flutter slightly and she remembered that she was due an injection soon, the infusion they had developed was to help when there were days when having their powers made them shake uncontrollably, and made them so weak they couldn’t do anything. Having extra DNA in your system may have some advantages but the human body was still developing and so there were days when it tried to reject the new genomes. Evie’s last experience had been particularly bad and the infusion was the only thing that brought her back to feeling normal. ’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 into the main auditorium; the large room was filling with people. Evie felt her powers shake under her skin, and she could feel sweat forming on her brow as she looked at the empty stage.

'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 took the route hidden from the public to get to the main stage. Waiting in the wings was Astrid Jenks, one of the leading Press Secretaries for the Galen President’s. Evie had grown up watching Jenks on the news and the woman hadn’t changed in years. Her brunette hair was cut to a short bob and had multiple blond highlights running through it, her pin stripe suit fit perfectly, and her expression was blank, as ever.

'Do you understand your objective?' Jenks asked, skipping unnecessary pleasantries.

Evie narrowed her eyes. 'Do you understand yours?'

'Do you always have to be this difficult?' Jenks asked.

'I have to have some fun.'

Jenks shook her head. 'Scientists,' she muttered. 'Just don't do anything contradicting Galen’s message. 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—there’d been no other media outlet apart from PGOAN, President Galen One America Network, in the States for the last several decades. Galen’s grandfather had declared all other media providers posed a significant threat to his Presidential rule and after establishing his own outlet he made it illegal for any other reporters to publish news that hadn’t been approved through their organisation. The Galen family only wanted writers who’d promote what they wanted.

Evie looked out to the stage; the lights dimmed, and the audience hushed. Jenks took a moment before she walked onto the main stage and was welcomed by a loud applause. Despite being insufferable, she was undeniably popular.

'Good evening ladies and gentlemen,' said Jenks into the microphone. 'We'll start tonight's proceedings with a message from our esteemed leader. Please rise for President Galen.'

The audience stood, looking at the large screen as Presidential music filled the auditorium. The shot opened to one of the rooms in Galen's mansion. She was sat on a gold-plated chair with a velvet red cushion. Her light gray hair was tied back into a tight bun, and she wore a black skirt suit. Her pale blue eyes stared at the camera, making Evie's stomach squirm. Those eyes had witnessed moments in Evie’s life that Evie wished she could forget. She couldn't escape from the darkness lingering behind them. Evie noticed light wrinkles had begun to show in the corner of her eyes, and showed signs of too many long nights and early mornings. Wrinkles also gathered at her pursed lips, her sour demeanour was well practiced over the decades.

'Good evening,' Galen said. 'Tonight's event is one of significance as we make breakthroughs in genetic research. For decades, we’ve been fighting a bio-genetic war that attacked us after our country had already suffered so much. This new attack was sent to wipe us out and killed millions. Then the genetics changed, and humans evolved into something more dangerous and created a new attack. In the early days of the Genic population they turned on us, created an uprising and a civil war as they tried to understand their power and place in the world. Afterwards, the uprising laws passed so Genics could never launch another deadly attack against us. The research conducted in this University is creating a safer place for us all. Without Dr. Fox and her team, Genics would evolve and attack us with powers we have no way of combatting. Dr. Fox helps create a safer America for decades to come. A safe America, means a safe future.'

The message ended to enthusiastic applause. Jenks smiled as she turned back to the crowd. ‘Join me in welcoming Dr. Fox.'

The applause continued as Evie walked over to Jenks, her hands trembling. She placed her notes on the podium and looked out to the crowd. Judging from their eccentric and brightly colored clothes, they were mainly people from New York’s upper-class division, the families who had been able to survive the outbreak, their old money remaining safe in the new world and through donations, bribery and who knew what else, it gave them the opportunity to become part of the elite. They were the type of people who could afford to come to a public lecture. The type of people security would let in.

Unlike Evie parents. They had sought sanctuary in Volt’s Institution after the virus had taken down Baltimore and rioters had destroyed the country. Bundling a ten-year-old Jack and new born Evie into a truck, they had made the long journey to Maine, and arrived at the towering Institution that was the only sanctuary they had. They, like many Americans, had heard of these buildings that were being created across America and news from PGOAN had told them it was a safe zone, a place that had been able to take every precaution against being attacked by the virus. It was only after they had been accepted would they see what Galen had been planning for America. Volt I in Maine, was the first camp that had been created, soon a network spread throughout the country and as poverty swept across the nation, the thought of ever returning to life as it once was became an impossible dream. A dream that Evie’s parents had died believing.

Evie cleared her throat. ‘A new strand of evolved genetics are shaping our future as we begin the next wave in human evolution. Our leader, President Galen, has been aiding our research so we can continue to strive to be the best nation we can be in the face of our enemies.' She looked over to Jenks, who nodded. The cloying words weren't her own, they were perpetrated for a cause she didn’t believe in. But even in a city away from the Capitol, one wrong word had dangerous consequences.

'When a new force attacked us, they infected our people with an enhanced virus that mutated our DNA and gave harmless civilians, extraordinary powers that changed them completely. This swept across America and became a plague. For those who were badly infected, it changed them into monsters and took them beyond humanity. Anyone who had been genetically altered were named Genics, and ousted as America’s newest enemy. Fear was created as a result, these Genics were people who were in our neighborhoods, in our schools. They were 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 America’s deadliest civil wars as Genics revolted against humans as they tried to find a place in this world. When we captured some of the ones that were more notorious, we studied their DNA and found what made them different. 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 who would defend us from both Genics and foreign attacks.'

There was a cheer to this part of history, and retelling the story had captured their attention. ‘This new form of genetics was first encountered in the old world and released to the human population through an uncontrollable, extra-terrestrial virus.’ She brought up a map of old America. This was risky—any banned material used from the old world would be enough to get her arrested, and talking about the invasions could warrant a public beating, or worse. Jenks shifted on her feet, probably readying herself to end the presentation. But it was time to speak out.

'Genetic modification has become crucial for human survival. Everyone in this room has had some exposure to this. But it’s been determined by President Galen that those who have extra-terrestrial DNA pose the greatest threat. Which is why our work must continue.' Evie was determined to make sure that her language told her audience that it was the President who thought Genics were a threat, she hoped the message was subtle enough for them to realise that they didn’t have to think the same but she wasn’t so sure they would understand her. After all, Galen had her government had become skilled in brainwashing.

Evie found Cara sitting to one side of the crowd staring at her hopeful. They couldn't go back to the Capitol. They'd worked hard to escape the confining walls, and while they still lived under the regime, it was at least marginally more tolerable.

Jenks started an applause. The room joined in as Jenks walked over to the podium. 'We'll now take a few short questions before we retire for the evening.'

'What are you doing?' Evie whispered. 'I'm not finished.'

'The FSA are in the building.' Jenks gestured to the small communication device nestled behind her ear.

Evie's eyes widened and her heart raced as she turned back to the crowd. A woman raised her hand. 'What are you doing to apprehend Katarina Valletta? If she hadn't escaped from Volt-One, none of the other Genics would have either, and we’d be safe.'

Evie steadied her breath at the mention of Valletta’s name. Evie knew who she was, there wasn’t a person in America who didn’t. The Genic was one of the most powerful Volt had created and when she had escaped it was enough to almost start another war. ‘Katarina Valletta has been under surveillance,' Evie said. 'We established the free zone, known as the Stacks, so we could maintain some peace in America between humans and Genics. The Genics know they're not allowed to leave the zone without facing the death penalty.'

'Does that mean you’ve found a way to kill Valletta?' a man asked.

Sirens sounded throughout the auditorium. The questions fell silent and everyone calmly rose to their feet.

'Head to the basement,' said Jenks to the crowd. 'You too, Dr. Fox.'

'We need to alert the Capitol,' Evie said. ‘They’ll send backup,'

'They’ll already know we’ve been breached.' Jenks ushered her off the stage.

Evie searched for Cara in the crowd, her eyes widened again as she looked for her friend, fighting the bustling people. Cara was up ahead, moving to her but paused when Jenks gave stopped Evie.

'What was that?' Jenks asked.

'What was what? I've got to get to my friend.' Before Jenks could ask Evie another question, she pushed her way through the crowd and caught up with Cara.

'Did you know there was going to be an attack?' Cara asked.

'No idea. Jack warned that something could happen though.’

They made their way to the large basement. Once there, Evie found them a spot in the corner and turned over a couple of crates to sit on. Staff flowed into the basement. Evie’s heart began to race as the air grew thinner, the walls felt like they were making the room smaller, making her feel like she was back in a cell, locked up waiting for the scientists to come. She could feel her hands begin to shake, her mouth turned dry and her vision began to blur.

Cara took her hand. 'Don't lose it. Not here,' she whispered.

Evie looked at her.

A man came over to them. 'You never answered my question.'

'Now's not the time, sir,' Cara said.

'It's fine.' Evie dropped her hand. 'We're doing what we can to apprehend Valletta. She’s an anomaly in the system but we're making progress to make sure she can't harm.'

'So, this isn't her army?'

'She's not part of the FSA,' Cara answered.

The man's face went pale. 'This is the FSA?'

The room shook so fiercely they fell to the floor. The room went dark. Everyone fell quiet. Evie looked up at the ceiling. Black shadows crashed through, sending debris shattering everywhere. Evie had seen the Death Marks shadows once before. She knew the horror they were about to unleash. She gripped onto Cara as her body became overwhelmed and her heart raced. She could feel the powers burning under her skin, begging to be released so that she could fight back.

Screams erupted around the basement as the shadows landed and transformed into men wearing dark long coats over black clothes. Electric energy formed in their palms and shot out at the cowering people. She watched, frozen, as the attack vaporized their victims.

Something switched inside her; electric energy surged through her. She’d spent years controlling the mutated power inside her, fearing what would happen if anyone discovered what she could do. The magical energy raced and swirled toward their attackers in a flash of bright white light. Death Marks flew backward and hit the wall. They looked around with surprise. Their eyes met hers and Evie snapped out of her trance. Shouts filtered down the stairs. The man Evie had attacked got to his feet, staring at her. He was tall, black skin that showed hints of tattoos underneath the clothes that covered his bulging muscles. He smirked. She looked at him and knew he knew who she was. The soldiers descended and attempted to capture the Death Marks who shifted back into the black shadows and escaped. The man tried to follow but one of the soldiers tased him.

Evie saw that it was Jack and watched as he hurried down the stairs and over to the Death Mark. He turned to her and looked at the shocked crowd.

'It's okay everybody. The soldiers will lead you back upstairs and escort you to your homes. A curfew is going into effect across the city so we can keep everyone safe.'

People murmured and followed the soldiers out of the room. A few of them looked over to Evie warily. She did her best to avoid their stares.

'You shouldn't have done that,' Cara whispered. 'Someone's going to say something.'

'They won't.' Evie hoped the fear would be enough to silence them.

She walked over to her brother who was kneeling over the Death Mark. His eyes were closed as he was lay motionless on the floor. 'Is he still alive?'

'Yeah, it'll take more than a taser to take one of these guys down. Especially this one,’ Jack looked up at her. 'Are you okay? I assembled the men as soon as we got word something was going down. We just weren't here quick enough.'

'I'm fine,' she said. 'I think Cara's a little shaken. It's been a while since we've encountered a Death Mark.'

'They're not the friendliest Genics,' Jack said.

'Trained assassins never are,' Evie said. 'What's going to happen to him?'

'We'll haul him in for questioning and see what information we can get. He’s James Kingsley, one of Valletta’s men, we’ve been after him for a while.’

'Won't he just be able to escape?' Cara asked.

'We can bind that part of his powers,' Evie told her. 'Only a select few Genics can move through different locations, so we can neutralize it.' Evie took a step backwards she almost fell and held onto Jack to stop herself.

He caught her. 'Are you okay?'

'It's been a big day,' Cara said quickly. ‘Doctors should check her out.'

Jack motioned over to other soldiers. 'Get him to the interrogation room, and take my sister to see a nurse.’

The man saluted as others dragged Kingsley onto a stretcher. As a nurse came over to Evie, she watched them take the Genic away. He looked like an ordinary man. What had led him down the path of trying to kill them today? Then again, Genics wanted to kill humans. That's what America was being told and believed. Kingsley had simply proved Galen's government was correct: they're the biggest threat to America. Evie’s heart dropped. She longed to meet a Genic who’d make the world think differently about who they were. About who she was.