Alpha Project: Genesis

Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Prologue

Time: February 14, 2014.

Alone, a man sat in a testing lab.

He was caucasian, had slicked-back brown hair, and had a thin face. He was wearing an expensive suit with no tie, and had a concerned look on his face. His palms were sweaty, and his brow was furrowed.

He held a shot in his hand.

One of his sleeves had been pulled back, revealing his pale skin. There was a small imprint near his wrist; he had injected himself.

His name was Judas Silver, a brilliant businessman and the head of Genesis Labs. Genesis Labs was the center of scientific advancement worldwide. It boasted a wide range of technologies and areas of study, from smartphones to multicellular genetics.

Recently, his scientists in the Genetics team had discovered a virus; a powerful virus. After testing the virus on various animals, the scientists came to the conclusion that it should never be tested on humans.

Unless it could be controlled.

Judas sent the scientists to work to perfect this native virus. And after six months of experimenting, they finally developed a prototype of the virus to be tested on the human body.

When they asked who he wanted to test, Judas volunteered himself.

And here he sat, with a vial in hand, waiting for results.

He didn't know how long he had been sitting there in that chair, holding the shot. He had already tried standing up and running around, jumping, and other movements. But nothing had seemed to be kickstarting the virus. So he figured that he would sit there until he got results.

First five minutes, then ten, then fifteen. He still waited.

After half an hour, he was still locked in concentration. His hands were balled up into fists, and the sweat ran down his head. His right foot tapped impatiently. It has to happen sometime, he thought. It has to work.

"Sir?"

Judas turned to his right. His scientists were sitting outside of the testing chamber, watching him from a transparent room. They had been there the entire time.

Teeth gritted, Judas asked, "What?"

The head scientist spoke up, "S-sir, I suggest we test it on other subjects. It's just a prototype, the full effects of the virus may not-"

"Why other subjects?"

The room grew silent.

Judas stood up and paced around, waiting for an answer.

None of the scientists spoke.

"Why wouldn't it work on me?" asked Judas.

The scientists stammered, "W-well, um, sir-"

Judas stood up, grabbed the chair he was sitting on, and threw it furiously against the transparent room. The glass shattered, and the scientists staggered back.

Judas walked forward and yelled, "WHY DOESN'T IT WORK ON ME?!!"

Shocked, the lead scientist brushed the glass off of his lab coat and attempted to answer, "I'm sorry, sir! We scanned you when you took the virus, but it did nothing to your bloodstream!"

"WHY?"

"Sir, we know that the virus is meant to enhance us, mentally and physically. However, our bodies have to be able to accept the changes we are making to it when we put the virus in."

Judas stepped forward, "And why is my body resisting it, doctor? This was supposed to alter my cells, to change my body and mind!"

He glared at the scientist, "To evolve me. It worked on the animals! It worked on all of them! Their brain cells enhanced, their muscles grew stronger. So why doesn't it work on ME?!"

The lead scientist searched for an answer. Judas's face was red with rage. He had tried to concentrate, tried to feel the effects of the virus. It was supposed to make him smarter, make him faster, make him stronger. And it had already worked on a number of animals.

So why didn't it work on him?

"Because you're not young enough!"

Judas turned around, now facing one of the other scientists.

"What do you mean?" he asked in a growly tone.

The scientist cleared her throat and tried to explain, "When we scanned you, we saw that the virus had no effect on your body. But, when experimenting with young animals, the virus enhanced them. It's possible that you need to be of a certain age in order to be affected."

Judas looked at the lead scientist and asked, "Is this possible?"

The lead scientist thought about for a moment, then answered, "I believe so, sir. Theoretically, it would mean that the virus only affects an organism if its growing. It would enter their body and become part of the growing process. However, the only way we could test that with humans is-"

"Adolescent test subjects." Judas answered out loud.

He began to pace around the room, occasionally stepping on the glass.

The lead scientist asked, "Sir, are you considering experimenting on... teenagers?"

Judas continued to pace. He was in deep thought.

The scientist laughed nervously, "Heh. Mr. Silver, you can't be serious-"

Judas interrupted, "But it just might work, doctor."

The scientists glanced at each other. One of them spoke up, "Sir, that would be kidnapping. The legal ramifications that could have on the company would be astronomical! And from a moral standpoint-"

"This could change the world." Judas spoke in a steely voice, "And sometimes, risks have to be taken. If we test this, imagine the profit we could make! Every country would want their own super-weapon!"

"But they're children!" the female scientist desperately replied.

"And how would you even get them here for testing, Mr. Silver? We can't just snatch them out their beds at night!!"

"Genesis Labs Aptitude Testing."

"What?" the scientists asked.

"Genesis Labs Aptitude Testing." Judas spoke again.

He elaborated, "We set up a high school summer camp of some kind. We offer the kids the chance of a lifetime, which we technically are, and bring them here for a tour of the labs. Then, we bring them to our intelligence facility, where they'll be tested to see "if they have what it takes to be a scientist". And in reality, they will be experimented on for our purposes. It might be a long shot, but we're already commercial. They'll buy it."

"But what happens when the parents realize that their children are missing?"

Judas chuckled, "I know more than a few private security companies who would be willing to provide their.. services."

The scientists stood together in silence for a moment. Judas put the chair he had thrown back on its legs and sat down in it. He waited patiently, brushing glass off of his suit.

Finally, the lead scientist commented, "It could work."

Slowly, some of the other scientists began to nod their heads in agreement.

But, angered, the female scientist spoke up, "No! No, it couldn't! If this works, you're suggesting the equivalent of child soldiers! Mr. Silver, you sound like nothing short of a.. a.."

"A revolutionary businessman?" Judas guessed.

"An extremist!" the woman yelled. She pleaded, "Sir, you can't do this! Stop thinking like a businessman and remember your morals, for Pete's sake!"

Judas stood and replied, "And remember that you work for me."

He walked out of the room, saying, "It starts today. Get the advertisements ready, prep your labs. We're about to change the world, and these kids will be the key."