Fall of the Chrysalis

Before the fall

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-2 Hours before the fall-

I woke up, Like every other morning before. Stood in the mirror absentmindedly brushing my teeth staring out the window through the mirror watching as we passed by a nebula. The bathroom was full of steam and the condensation was collecting on the window behind me. I dropped my towel on the floor and stood there staring at myself. Hardly any muscle definition, not a hair on my body. I know Dad said Genesis children are often late bloomers but at this point I was wondering if I would be this way forever. I didn't hear the door slide open as my father came into the bathroom with me. towel wrapped around his waist. I envied his stature. "sorry son I didn't know you were still getting ready in here." "It's okay Dad, I was just...." my voice trailed off. how was I supposed to try and explain my current predicament. He looked me from head to toe. "Son, it's alright. Not everyone comes into age at the same time." "What if it never happens to me I said. I'm almost 18,  And I still look like I'm 13 from the waste down. I don't understand." He sat down on the toilet and told me to stand Infront of him. He examined my body thoroughly, Looking at the length of my arms, fingers, toes, foot size, leg definition and genitals. "Everything seems to be healthy, albeit a bit small for your age." "That's what I'm trying to tell you! Jeez Dad for the Head of Medical bay you really need to learn to listen to your patients!" I stormed out closing the door. I shouldn't have said that. It isn't his fault. We learned early on just how much the human body relies on things like natural sunlight and vitamins. Most genesis children still grew into normal healthy adults, But instead of going through puberty between 12 and 14, The process starts as late as 15. But for some reason I'm stuck, destined to be a man child forever. I took one last look at myself before slipping on my underwear and a Black T-shirt. I picked out some Ripped white Jeans and slid on my black steel toe boots. "I'm sorry dad" I yelled through the door "No response. maybe he cant hear me over the running water. I will leave him a note. "Gone to the mess hall for breakfast, I'm so sorry. I'm just so frustrated. I shouldn't have directed that anger towards you, Love you. I will save you a seat" I folded the note up and left it on the Night stand in our room nearest his bed. As I was walking to the Mess hall I heard my name called... Well not exactly my name. More like a name I've come to associate with fear and abuse. "Hey Dogust!" I Knew who was trying to get my attention already. I turned around bowing my head. There he was, A giant towering over me. I could smell the testosterone growing as he got closer to me.  "What do you want Daniel?" I said, instantly knowing that my tone was a mistake. "Is that anyway for a puppy to greet his owner? Now Dogust be a good boy." I hated that name. He calls me Dogust because he says I look like a puppy compared to him. He is bigger in every way imaginable. except in the head. What ground he had on me physically, I was superior Mentally. "Hey son, You ready for Breakfast?" My dread turned to elation as my Father strolled up behind Daniel. He was about a foot taller and carried the confidence of a Fleet commander with him. "Hey Daniel I got your holo about that unsightly rash. Come see me after breakfast and I will get you sorted. Might want to bring that girlfriend of yours along too I suspect it might be transmittable through, How should I say... close contact." I stifled a giggle at the expense of my childhood bully. He walked away His face red hot with embarrassment. "Are you alright? He didn't hurt you again did he?" "No Dad" I said. "Good well lets grab a seat and get some food." We walked into the mess hall, hundreds of people were already sat down eating. We walked to the end of the line and after about 10 minutes we got our food and sat down to eat. Dad grabbed two pieces of bacon and did his famous "bacon walrus" impression. It's lame but he loves it so I laugh every time. A few minutes go by and we talk about random things, subjects in school I need to catch up on, His Medical review coming up. Possibility of a promotion to Chief of surgery.  Everything was looking great for our future. Then just as I was standing up to put away our trays I saw something in my peripheral vision. Out of the window in the mess hall there was a blinding flash. The Lights flickered and the ship was knocked a few degrees off course. The Gravity generators powered down as the emergency lights came on blinking red and an automated voice started playing on everyone's Holo-com "Emergency evacuation process initiated, Please remain calm and follow the flashing lights to the nearest life boat." I looked at Dad, My eyes full of fear. "Go to Life boat 16!" "But Dad 16 is all the way across the ship!" "16 Son I will meet you there I promise. I have to get some things from the lab and make a stop at our room" I nodded, I wasn't going to argue in this matter. Dad was one of the first people recruited for Project Metamorphosis, I'm sure he knew something I didn't. I Grabbed onto his arm and he used all his strength to fling me across the room to the door. I climbed through and entered the hallway, the red lights flashing and guiding me to the waiting life boats. But the one I am looking for is in the opposite direction. I pulled myself along the wall while battling through people who were screaming at me. "Wrong way idiot, go towards the lights!" I did my best to ignore them. It felt like hours passed before I arrived at the hanger for life boat 16. But in all reality it was probably no more than 15 minutes. Growing up around here and learning all the corridor layouts had it's advantages. Nostalgia replaced the fear for a few seconds as I had flashbacks to when my father would hide items across the ship and only tell me what room they were in. He would instruct everyone to let me find it on my own. Usually at the end of a very frustrating hunt through the largest manmade maze was a snack, My favorite was always a Twix candy bar. Dad must have smuggled on a few dozen cases of them before the Chrysalis ever launched. I shook the happy thoughts from my head and refocused on the hangar doors. Great, they added biometric security.  I was going to turn back, thinking that I had time to make it to another Life Boat. But before I could map it out in my head, another huge explosion rocked the ship. I was tossed about in the cramped corridor and must have aligned with the biometric security system. A laser scanned my face. The Light on the door switched from an angry shade of red to a welcoming green hue. "Crewman August Ryan Keller detected, access granted." The speaker announced before The doors slid open. I pulled my way inside the hangar and set my eyes on Life Boat 16, The doors opened with a hiss and I climbed onboard. I turned on the flight computer, navigation, auxiliary power and Emergency beacon just as I had been taught to do 1,000 times during my survival training. The wall panel opened revealing a set of gooey suits. "Ugh I hate these things." I said as I pulled one off the wall. I stripped naked and slid the suit on. a hose dropped from the ceiling and I connected it to my suit. In an instant it began filling with nano bots suspended in a viscous gel like substance. hence why we "loving" call them gooey suits. I felt the nano bots start attaching to me and my helmet started showing vital signs across my heads up display. A perky voice started reading out "heart rate, oxygen levels, blood pressure, blood glucose, body heat, all vitals systems initialized. Warning, Heart rate elevated." "YOU THINK!" I yelled in a panicked voice. "Try taking some deep calming breaths." My suit replied. "I don't have time to breathe right now!" I sat in the passenger seat and waited for my father to come through the door. I waited for about 5 minutes, Watching the dark door across the hangar bay the occasional flash of red emergency lights slightly illuminating the hallway. Another large jolt through the ship. the alarms started getting louder. My anxiety grew steadily as I watched the door hoping to see the shape of my father emerge any second. My focus was broken as I heard the life boats computer "Remote override initiated, Sealing doors," Before I could react the doors slammed shut and the computer pressurized the cabin. " No please! I can't leave him!" But talking to a computer has no effect on it's programming. I was powerless to stop it. The hangar doors opened below the life boat. and with a loud clank the docking claw disengaged dropping me into an empty abyss of nothingness. I was alone.