Project Radioactive

Promises

"Micro parasites?" Jayden asked. We were discussing our conditions.

"Yes, and these are highly mutated organisms that have been found on the asteroids. They attach to nerves and feed on blood. When they release waste, the products are like small energy balls. One will not do much, but for 59 years, your blood has been replaced with PR004, a mutated blood type that gives you almost unlimited energy, strength, speed, and powers, depending on what was affected the most. Celia's neurotransmitters have found ways to send signals to other brains that causes duplication, or telepathy, maybe even possession. Marcus' nerves have a reaction time so fast that he could probably run the speed of sound. Jayden's nerves cause healing because they send signals to speed up the process." Dr. Tanner's speech sounded like something strait out of a Marvel movie, like we became super soldiers.

"You said that these parasites also help the host survive?" I asked. I was always at the top of my biology class, but I never heard of bioastromes. Apparently they started to show up after the incident in 2015, and they haven't stopped hitting earth.

"They adapt to a single host, so bioastromes adjust the body to become more powerful."

The president fiddled his thumbs. "The thing is that a war is starting that no one else can help in. Nuclear war has always been a minor concern, but we fear that it is coming. Bomb threats are everywhere, and I'm afraid that atomic bombs will be making a return. America has unwillingly had to reopen the Manhattan project, but there may be a way that we can avoid war altogether."

Dr. Tanner nodded along as if we needed all of the convincing we could get, his yellow suit wrinkling as he did so. "Destroy China's weapons development."

"Why China?" I asked.

"They declared war on America because we are drowning in debt. They want to take over our land because China is now one of the most polluted places on earth. Half of the world's population has died from pollution, and astronauts are finding a new planet for us to start over on, but this war may defeat all hope of starting over. The only ones who could survive radioactivity are mutants, and right now, you guys are the only ones awake. More should be waking soon, so we need you on board."

I thought about all of this. I already accepted the impossible, but I was in shock. My parents are dead, everyone I knew is gone, my planet in danger. I had always been a person who cared about the environment because I knew that one day it would be too late. Seeing how much my generation failed to save the planet made me feel responsible for them. "One condition," I said. "We have to stabilize Zander."

The men looked at each other, then at me. Coming to a silent agreement, they looked at me.

"Deal."