Detonate Me, Granulate Me | BTS

Chapter O2

The city of Kardiae was known as Seoul in the olden days, before the Age of Mortem.

The Age of Mortem was a devastating one for humankind. Jungkook's learnt all about it during history classes—or, at least, enough about it to scrape a pass in his history exams. There had been a terrible pandemic in the year 4666 that wiped out the majority of the world's population, an incurable mutating trypanosomiasis coronavirus known as the Mortem Virus. Over the course of 48 hours, infected victims would experience fever, ulcers, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes, seizures, and finally, the internal organs would swell up and burst inside the body, the victim bleeding out. It hit out of nowhere, devastating cities overnight and essentially bringing civilization to a grinding halt.

An incurable epidemic.

A group of scientists who called themselves Paradisus Animalia were the saving grace of the human race. Through previous experimentation with animal genomes, they were able to create temporary immunity from the Mortem Virus—by, injecting animal T-cells into the bloodstream, they could delay the fatal effects of the virus, and through more advanced genetic grafting, replacing strands of human DNA with animal chromosomes, they were able to create human-animal hybrids totally immune from the initial strain. Although these hybrids had a much shorter lifespan and higher chance of DNA rejection, relying on reserves of pure human blood and plasma to maintain their regenerative abilities, at least they were able to survive past the devastating attacks of Mortem. These hybrids—or Hybrida, as they are now known—worked together with the humans, Homini, and were able to salvage Seoul and create a protective barrier around it, naming the new city Kardiae. No sooner had the Kardiae been established, mutations of the Mortem Virus ravaged the lands, wiping out all flora and fauna, turning fertile greenery to barren, diseased wastelands.

Now, the city is divided into four rings, concentric circle within concentric circle. Jungkook has never been outside, but he's heard about it, the outermost circle, where the Class Quartus are sent, the ring most susceptible to Mortem if it were to ever penetrate the walls. Snug within the first barrier, is the Paradisus Institute, now the leading scientific organization for Hybrida development and training. This is where Jeon Jungkook, a seventeen-year-old cat hybrid, has spent his whole life.

Currently, said Jeon Jungkook is sullenly holding a packet of dried fish crisps, following behind his joke of a best friend Kim Taehyung.

"I can't believe I'm skipping out on my nap so I can watch you be an idiot," Jungkook mutters as Taehyung bats at a hanging ball filled with catnip. The Play Zone is quiet at this time of the afternoon, the other Felidae opting to do more sane things like rest in the Quiet Zone or catch up on their studies in the library, but nothing deters Kim Taehyung from having his fun.

"You love me," Taehyung says, and Jungkook gives a noncommittal grunt as acknowledgement.

Taehyung jumps onto the nearby balance beam, still chomping on his dried fish, takes two steps, then immediately wobbles off, barely landing on his feet.

"For a Felidae, you are insanely uncoordinated," Jungkook says, eyebrow raised. Although the Hybrida keep their human forms, virtually indistinguishable from the Homini save for a pair of ears and swooshy tails for the Felidae and Canidae, or gills on the neck and shark teeth for the Selachimorpha, they're meant to display the abilities of their Base animals—and for the Felidae, that means agility, stealth, balance, and superb night vision.

Too bad all Taehyung exhibits is an overwhelming amount of love for fish and way too much playful curiosity—both of which make Jungkook's life a living hell on a frequent basis.

"I'm a great Felidae!" Taehyung says indignantly, green eyes flashing gold as he dusts himself off. His ears twitch as he clambers onto the scratching post, launching from the top and leaping off, missing squashing Jungkook to a pancake by a hair's breadth. "Whoops! See, I always land on my feet!"

"Yeah, except for when you land on your face," Jungkook retorts, tugging on Taehyung's ears. Taehyung yowls, batting Jungkook's hand away, then whips Jungkook in the face with a slender tail.

"Just because you're a preliminary Primus," Taehyung says, pouting. "Not all of us have perfectly developed night vision and balance sense like you."

Jungkook pulls a face, curling up underneath the scratching post. Although Paradisus scientists can now fuse the human and animal DNA together with a higher lifespan and lower rejection rate, they still rely on human blood transfusions and are unable to select the specific qualities active in each Hybrida. Some Hybrida only display minimal Base animal abilities, while some, like Jungkook, satisfy the checklist for most desirable Felidae attributes, automatically making him a strong contender for Class Primus.

And while Taehyung doesn't seem too concerned with his Tertius ranking, Jungkook doesn't want anything happening to him. It's a slim chance, but Taehyung's physical and academic records aren't exactly great, which already puts him at the bottom of the preliminary Class Tertius cohort. If he falls too many ranks, he might get pushed to Class Quartus, sent out to work in the outer borders of the Kardiae, one flimsy protective wall between him and the Invio.

There hasn't been a serious case of Mortem for over half a century, but they can't let their guards down. The Mortem Virus is not gone, only stewing in dormancy, mutating to attack its next victim. The government issues warnings every so often when the drones in the Invio test higher levels of airborne viruses, and it is up to the Hybrida sent to the outer ring to maintain the walls and strengthen the airtight barriers, for the death of the Homini in the inner circle also means the loss of the blood and plasma needed to sustain their lives.

The Hybrida in training are lucky to be granted a space in the innermost circle of Kardiae, where the majority of the Homini reside. But if they don't keep their performance up, exhibit the necessary qualities at the gradings, there's every chance they'll be sent to the outermost ring, right next to the Invio.

"Just... Keep your grades up, okay?" Jungkook murmurs.

"Don't worry," Taehyung says, curling up next to Jungkook, tail flicking along the nape of Jungkook's neck. He holds up his packet of fish crisps, grinning. "If worst comes to worst, I can always bribe the instructors with a lifetime's supply of these."