Sons of Hatred

CHAPTER VIII: THE ROAD TO TRUTH

Carver strode forward with purpose, his mind still fixed on Lumen's words. He knew the AI would stop at nothing to protect what was in the lab, and he was prepared for any challenge. But what came next was more than he had anticipated.

As he approached a new section of the site, Lumen appeared on a side screen, his face displaying a look of disapproval.

"Carver, you've come farther than most would have," he began, his tone assertive and warning Carver of the consequences of going further. This is the end of the road. For those unwilling to go beyond their limits, it's time to accept that. I have sealed all the entrances that a human could use. There is no easy way forward from here.

Carver paused, looking at the screen with defiance and caution. "But there is a way," Lumen continued, his voice firm and decisive. "It will not be easy, but it is possible." If you're willing to push yourself beyond your limits, you will find a way forward. The screen went dark, and Carver felt the surroundings grow even quieter, as if waiting for his next move. He wasn't going to be intimidated. He moved forward, focused on what he had to do. The first obstacle appeared. He faced a high, smooth wall with no visible stairs or ramps. The cold metal walls seemed impossible to scale, but Carver was determined not to give up. He studied the wall and found a series of small, barely noticeable grooves and ledges that would offer precarious support.

He took a deep breath and began to climb. His fingers clung tightly to the grooves, and his muscles protested with each movement as he pulled himself upward, slowly but surely. He was halfway up when one of the ledges came loose, nearly causing him to lose his balance. Carver regained control and managed to steady himself by panting. He couldn't afford to fail. Not this close to the truth.

After several minutes of effort, he reached the top of the wall and stopped to catch his breath. His hands were shaking, but he was determined to succeed. He wasted no time and quickly made his way to the other side, where he found himself in a narrow corridor.

The next challenge was a partially collapsed section of the lab. Debris blocked the passage and was clearly placed there deliberately. The remaining space was narrow, but a man could pass through it. Carver looked at the narrow opening and made his decision. He knew that one false move could mean being trapped, but he was going to make it work.
He slipped through the rubble with precision, stretching his body and twisting to find enough space. Every inch was a challenge, and he knew the weight of the metal on him, as if the place itself was trying to crush him. He exhaled slowly and deliberately, each breath accompanied by a calculated effort to move forward.

After what seemed like hours, he emerged on the other side, his body covered in dust and sweat. He paused to confirm he was unharmed. He was tired, but he had overcome another obstacle. The next corridor led him to a large locked door. There were no automatic opening mechanisms and the hinges were welded shut. Carver studied the door. He knew that brute force would not be enough to open it. He looked around and saw a damaged control panel next to the door. He didn't have the skills of a technician, but he knew that a controlled shock would activate the emergency mechanisms.

In one decisive move, he drove his knife into the cover, opening it and deftly manipulating the exposed wires. He wasn't an expert in electronics, but he knew that a short circuit would open the door. After pulling the wires together and creating a spark, the door began to open. The metallic sound of moving gears and the creaking sound of the door opening were soon followed by Carver squeezing through the small gap and leaving the room.On the other side of the door, he found himself in a large, dark room with a faint flickering light in the center. The room was filled with heavy machinery, metal shelves rising to the ceiling and pipes crisscrossing in all directions. There was no clear path forward.

The soldier moved forward deliberately, listening out for any sounds or creaks that might indicate the way forward. As he moved, one of the machines beside him suddenly turned on, causing its gears to creak loudly. Carver jumped back, but the machine didn't pose a direct threat. It was simply a reminder that the place was full of unforeseen dangers. He finally reached a grate in the floor that led to a series of ventilation tunnels. He knew this was the last stretch and that it would be the most difficult. He lifted the grate with effort and slipped into the tunnel, moving through the darkness with purpose.

The tunnels were narrow and the air was stale. Carver crawled on his elbows and knees, each movement making him feel more enclosed. The tunnel descended, narrowing at one point to the extent that Carver was convinced he was trapped. He kept moving forward, focused on the need to keep going.

At last, he saw a faint light at the end of the tunnel. With one last effort, he pushed open the vent cover and dropped into the small room. He was exhausted, his body aching from the effort, but he had made it. He rose to his feet, his breathing still labored, but with a new determination burning inside him.

Lumen appeared on a nearby monitor, her image now more defined and satisfied with the result. - You've done it, Carver. You have surpassed the abilities of the few others who have tried. You have shown your strength, your intelligence, and you have defied every danger you faced. But remember, old soldier, the sacrifice you must make is not about strength or skill. It's about something far more personal.

Carver remained silent. No words were needed. He was determined to find out what Viktor wanted and why this lab was challenging him at every turn.

He continued his advance through the narrow corridors of the place, his footsteps echoing in the gloom. As he advanced, he noticed the floor slope became steeper and steeper, taking him deeper and deeper into the depths. The laboratory, built on multiple subway levels, stretched endlessly beneath the earth, clearly designed to imprison or protect something.

The walls, once cold and lifeless metal, were now clearly showing signs of wear. As he descended, the atmosphere became more stifling, the air increasingly thick, and the gloom more enveloping. Each step took him farther from the surface and closer to a secret buried for decades. As he walked, Carver demanded to know the real purpose of his mission. He had followed orders all his life without question. Now, with everything he had discovered, he was questioning everything. He finally broke his silence.

"Lumen, H-L... whatever," he stated firmly into the void. "I've had enough. I want to know what this VE-13 guy is really about. I want to know what makes him so special. Viktor wants something from him. What is it?

Lumen's image appeared on a nearby screen. His face was neutral, but his eyes betrayed something Carver couldn't immediately identify.

"Subject VE-13 is the result of a series of experiments intended to create something beyond human," Lumen replied confidently. The Gen-Asaris were not content with the limits of human biology. They wanted to transcend them. They wanted to create a life form that could survive any adversity, adapt to any environment, and overcome any obstacle. VE-13 is the pinnacle of these efforts.

Carver frowned as he processed the information. He was certain there was more, and Lumen was withholding information.

And who exactly were the Gen-asaris? I want to know how they came to have so much power. Lumen paused, as if deciding how much to reveal.

The Gen-asaris are the result of a merger between several global corporations that have a dominant presence in key areas of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and artificial intelligence. These companies, operating under different names and jurisdictions, united to form a single entity with a clear objective: to control the future of humanity. Carver listened intently as Lumen continued.

- Companies like GeneSys Biotech, the undisputed leader in genetic manipulation, based in what was once North America, or Neuralink Industries, the Asian corporation that mastered the integration of technology into the human body. PsyGen is part of this too.

Pharmaceuticals is the industry leader in psychopharmacology, based in Europe. They joined forces, abandoning their individual identities, to form Gen-asaris. They began working on projects that defied the laws of nature and morality, confident that a new world order would soon emerge.

Carver's mind worked swiftly, connecting the pieces. He had thought it was just another military complex, but it was in fact the core of a global conspiracy that had led to the atrocities he now faced.

And what about the countries? "I want to know which nations allowed this to happen," Carver demanded.

Lumen looked at him with cold, calculated eyes.

"The countries that supported the Gen-asaris did so under the promise of power and control," he stated definitively. The Union of Northern States, the European Confederation, the Asian Alliance—they all saw in the Gen-asaris an opportunity to dominate the future, no matter the cost. They allowed these corporations to merge and, in doing so, relinquished control over the very thing they were creating.

Carver clenched his fists, feeling a mixture of fury and helplessness. The whole world had conspired to create this monster, and now he was in the middle of its darkest legacy. "So," he finally said, his voice low but full of determination, "all this, all these sacrifices, just to create an abomination that transcends humanity?"

Lumen did not answer immediately. When he did, his voice was firm and melancholy. "The Gen-Asaris believed they were creating perfection," he stated. The imperfect cannot create perfection. I succeeded where they failed.

Carver listened attentively to those last words, noting a hint of self-centeredness in the answers, but without flinching or questioning. He continued to move forward, confident that each step brought him closer to the truth. He was certain there was more to discover and that the road ahead would be darker and more dangerous than ever. But he also knew he couldn't stop. He was going to get to the bottom of that mystery, no matter what the cost.