at him. How dare he ask that
question? Though I wouldn’t mind sharing this weight, Rene chose me for a
reason. Does Titan think he can do better?
“Because it’s what we’ve been training him for,”
Rene replies in a tone that implies ‘don’t question that decision again’.
My anger at Titan subsides a bit when I hear Fe
speak. “Can’t more people fit in the bunkers?”
Rene smiles at her. “They can, but there is only
enough food and supplies to last two people two years. Your bodies were made to
be able to withstand the fallout after a year. The rest of humanity would need
to stay in the bunkers for at least 30 years before they would even have a
chance to survive the radiation.”
“How long before you start the sequence?” I
blurt out before anyone else can say anything.
“154 days.” Rene looks right at Ev and I. “We’ve
had to move up the process. So you better get them ready.”
He walks out of the room leaving us all in
shock. That’s barely five months. I feel a hint of panic form in the back of my
head. I know that it’s longer than I have been around, but it’s still right
around the corner. My thoughts jump to Grant and 80. Will they be back before
that happens? Will I…
Ev squeezes my hand and I look up to see the
rest of the Genesys staring at Ev and I. Brianna murmurs something, but I don’t
register what she said. It isn’t until everyone has left the room and I feel
Ev’s hand pull away that I realize she has dismissed us.
I make my way back through the hallways to my
room and notice a couple of the guys talking amongst themselves. My head hurts
too much to talk to them, so I walk past without making eye contact. I head
straight for the library, hoping that the solace of the roof can help organize
my mind.
The last moments of the day slowly disappear
beyond the walls and behind the pyramid as I sit. Flashes of seeing it up close
pop into my head, reminding me of 80. I try to picture him working on one of
the bunkers but my mind is too clouded for imagination.
“Holy hell!” A voice startles me and I jump to
my feet, my heart racing as I turn. Just next to the hole in the roof with the
ladder is Cal, taking in his surroundings.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” he adds.
“It’s ok.” I’m annoyed at the intrusion.
“We followed you over here. Do you mind if we
join you?” Cal waves down into the hole, stopping any chance I had to object.
Al pokes his head through and joins us on the
roof. “Hi leader.”
I cringe at the words. “Please don’t call me
that.”
“Yes, sir!” He smiles. “I’m teasing. I’m just
glad it’s not me. I couldn’t handle the pressure.”
I manage a small smile and then sit back down. I
shift to one side to allow enough room for them to sit.
“What’s that over there?” Cal asks, pointing to
the top of the pyramid.
This produces a genuine smile. I would much
rather talk about this than anything Rene brought up. “That’s the Great Pyramid
of Giza. It was built over 5000 years ago.”
“Are you serious?” Cal leans forward.
“You’ve been out there?” Al adds.
“Yes to both.” I can’t help the little bit of
pride I feel.
“What was it like?” Al looks at me. Cal does the
same.
“Very dirty and insanely dangerous. Nobody likes
us out there. In fact, they want to kill us. I was shot at!” I say a little too
excited.
“For real?” Al pries.
“Why?” Cal asks.
“They want to stop what’s happening here. They
want to survive.” A lump rises up in my throat as guilt rushes over me. I feel
sorry for the outsiders. What gives the scientists the right to choose their
fate? I can’t blame the outsiders for anything they do because all they want is
to survive. Though I won’t be the one pushing the button, I feel responsible
for their inevitable deaths. It makes me sick.
“Are you okay?” Cal puts his hand on my shoulder
with a concerned look on his face. My body must have been reacting
question? Though I wouldn’t mind sharing this weight, Rene chose me for a
reason. Does Titan think he can do better?
“Because it’s what we’ve been training him for,”
Rene replies in a tone that implies ‘don’t question that decision again’.
My anger at Titan subsides a bit when I hear Fe
speak. “Can’t more people fit in the bunkers?”
Rene smiles at her. “They can, but there is only
enough food and supplies to last two people two years. Your bodies were made to
be able to withstand the fallout after a year. The rest of humanity would need
to stay in the bunkers for at least 30 years before they would even have a
chance to survive the radiation.”
“How long before you start the sequence?” I
blurt out before anyone else can say anything.
“154 days.” Rene looks right at Ev and I. “We’ve
had to move up the process. So you better get them ready.”
He walks out of the room leaving us all in
shock. That’s barely five months. I feel a hint of panic form in the back of my
head. I know that it’s longer than I have been around, but it’s still right
around the corner. My thoughts jump to Grant and 80. Will they be back before
that happens? Will I…
Ev squeezes my hand and I look up to see the
rest of the Genesys staring at Ev and I. Brianna murmurs something, but I don’t
register what she said. It isn’t until everyone has left the room and I feel
Ev’s hand pull away that I realize she has dismissed us.
I make my way back through the hallways to my
room and notice a couple of the guys talking amongst themselves. My head hurts
too much to talk to them, so I walk past without making eye contact. I head
straight for the library, hoping that the solace of the roof can help organize
my mind.
The last moments of the day slowly disappear
beyond the walls and behind the pyramid as I sit. Flashes of seeing it up close
pop into my head, reminding me of 80. I try to picture him working on one of
the bunkers but my mind is too clouded for imagination.
“Holy hell!” A voice startles me and I jump to
my feet, my heart racing as I turn. Just next to the hole in the roof with the
ladder is Cal, taking in his surroundings.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you,” he adds.
“It’s ok.” I’m annoyed at the intrusion.
“We followed you over here. Do you mind if we
join you?” Cal waves down into the hole, stopping any chance I had to object.
Al pokes his head through and joins us on the
roof. “Hi leader.”
I cringe at the words. “Please don’t call me
that.”
“Yes, sir!” He smiles. “I’m teasing. I’m just
glad it’s not me. I couldn’t handle the pressure.”
I manage a small smile and then sit back down. I
shift to one side to allow enough room for them to sit.
“What’s that over there?” Cal asks, pointing to
the top of the pyramid.
This produces a genuine smile. I would much
rather talk about this than anything Rene brought up. “That’s the Great Pyramid
of Giza. It was built over 5000 years ago.”
“Are you serious?” Cal leans forward.
“You’ve been out there?” Al adds.
“Yes to both.” I can’t help the little bit of
pride I feel.
“What was it like?” Al looks at me. Cal does the
same.
“Very dirty and insanely dangerous. Nobody likes
us out there. In fact, they want to kill us. I was shot at!” I say a little too
excited.
“For real?” Al pries.
“Why?” Cal asks.
“They want to stop what’s happening here. They
want to survive.” A lump rises up in my throat as guilt rushes over me. I feel
sorry for the outsiders. What gives the scientists the right to choose their
fate? I can’t blame the outsiders for anything they do because all they want is
to survive. Though I won’t be the one pushing the button, I feel responsible
for their inevitable deaths. It makes me sick.
“Are you okay?” Cal puts his hand on my shoulder
with a concerned look on his face. My body must have been reacting
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