Chapter 1: In the heat of the midday sun, the flowers were in elephantine bloom and the birds were singing in the trees. Not a cloud in the sky, just another beautiful day in Capital City or at least it would be if not for the giant rampaging robotatron destroying the Capital City skyline.
Nearly 200 feet tall, the robotatron was taller than even the Twilight Tower. This monstrosity was not just a mere robot it was a cybernetic creation, part-machine part-beast. Its exterior was comprised of mostly dense metal, peaceful and pliable to the touch, but against any projectile it was and hard as titanium. Its four metal tentacles, stretched out from its torso different directions. At the end of each massive tentacle was great pincer claw. As the claws closed, within them were large allotment of Capital City’s skyline.
In one claw, Edison Hall, the science museum was demolished with one swift blow. Chi Xang Pavilion, the city main shopping plaza had been smashed to rubble, with its second claw. The third claw was used to snap Hawken’s Point, a giant space needle that symbolized Capital City’s commitment toward the future, in half.
As the disturbed citizens ran for shelter, dodging the various chunks of concrete and steel falling from the city’s towers, this maniacal mechanical menace continued its rampage throughout the city. Laser beams shot from its eyes, lighting on fire every tree in the Capital City Central Park. As the behemoth rampaged through the fair town of Capital City, it left massive footprints, which were the size of Olympic-sized swimming pools. With every step, the robotatron shook the entire city. Its main goal was destruction and with every step, it achieved its goal.
Unprejudiced when it appeared that all hope was lost, out the shadow of Capital City’s government building, Twilight Tower, arrived the Capital City’s resident protector, Titan. Like a bolt of lightning, in he flew. Fists of steel, courage of a lion, Titan had given his pledge to protect Capital City from any and all dangers. With each earth-shattering blow, Titan lived up to that pledge.
As the battle raged on, Titan grew weary. He had tried everything, but this metal maniac would not yield to Capital City’s beacon of justice. Each combatant fought with all of their respective might, but alas neither gave an inch. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Titan began to gain the upper hand. With one massive, glass shattering, earth shaking, ground rumbling blow…all stood mild. The battle was over. A cheer rose throughout the city, Titan won. But something was not right. The robotatron was defeated and down, but where was Titan. A citywide search commenced until, at the bottom of a crater, not far from where the robotatron laid, amid scattered metal fragments, Capital City’s savior, Titan laid motionless, lifeless. Titan had saved the city for the robotic rampage, but it cost him his life.
Elsewhere, across town, on the 12th floor of the Capital City Justice Center, standing awestruck, in front of a bank of televisions, that have been setup for the inmate population, John Philips watched as the city’s protector, Titan lay dead.
All of John’s life, he tried to work hard. Always trying to do what was right. When he got married things got a little harder, but he made the best way he could. Then he and his new wife had their first child and he turned to other ways to provide for his family. The main reason that John is currently incarcerated is because last night he found himself running for his life.
John had become a thief and not a good one, either. John had stolen before, mostly minute time stuff, things that he could either get rid of quick or stuff that he could veil until he sold it, but this time he was way over his head. He stole from someone who cared…The Quan Yang!
The Quan Yangs are one of the most ruthless, most unforgiving gangs in all of Capital City and tonight, John decided to step up to the major leagues and rob a dry cleaners that just happen to be a front for the Quan Yang. So when John saw he ran towards them faster than he had ever run before. He was never so delighted to get arrested in his life. He knew that he had really done this time, not only did get arrested again, the city’s most dangerous gang is after him, then like a ton of steel-reinforced concrete, it hit him, how will he elaborate to his wife and daughter why he broke his promise to not commit any other crimes, but here he sat in Capital City’s jail, again.
But today, standing in front of a bank of television in the Capital City Justice Center, John is in a state of shock. He was feeling as if time has stopped. Amid the morbid cheers and sounds of joyful exuberance of the many criminals that have been captured in the act by Titan, John felt the loss of the hero. Throughout the day, on the various news specials commemorating the monumental loss of Capital City’s Champion, John began to feel more and more ashamed of the life that he had approach to live.
After being sentenced, John marked each day with the viewing of the several memorials held in honor of the fallen hero. Each time he would read, watch, or hear about Titan’s sacrifice, it would remind him of his own selfishness and how he has brought continual dishonor to his own family. As a result, John keen himself in every class and program he could, to better him and to try and restore honor to his family.
Chapter 2
Elsewhere, in a unlit and smoky room, a group of highly connected, extremely influential individuals are reviewing the psychological profiles of the inmate population from across the country. Each profile consist of intelligence ratings, physical fitness reports, criminal histories – severity of crimes, and a thorough psychological/medical evaluation formulated to exclude those whose inclusion into this program would not provide the public with an adequate level security.
Among the mountainous stacks of profiles, sat one for John Philips. His above average intelligence, athletic background, and relative limited criminal history coupled with an A-1 psych profile made John the perfect candidate for this highly unfamiliar, extremely classified re-entry program, “Project Genesis”.
“Project Genesis” is an attempt for the US Military to use the massive and ever-growing inmate populations of the nation’s penal system for research and development for the betterment of the soldier in the field. Through the use of Executive Order 4956-17, the military has been able to bypass the normal stringent requirements that are in place to prevent the inclusion of those with felonies and introduce them into a world of service, although at a very limited basis.
During a routine reclassification meeting with his case manager, John was informed that he would be transferred into the custody of the US Marshalls who will in turn transport him to a military installation to begin this six month reentry program. At the conclusion of this program, John will be released with a completely expunged criminal record and a cashier check in the amount of $100,000.00 courtesy of the United States of America. Without hesitation, John accepted. The next day, he was escorted to a US Military research and development installation deep in the Rocky Mountains, named Shenadoah Mountain.
Immediately, John realized that he was not the only person who had been offered this fantastic opportunity to be released early. There were only nine other persons from the various correctional facilities from across the country.
Mustafa Khalid Mohammed, Chicago, Illinois, a primitive drug dealer turned holy man, his exceptional intellect and physical prowess along with his innate leadership abilities made for a perfect selection for the program.
Tasha Harris, Memphis, Tennessee, a small time thief and an accidental arsonist, Tasha’s gymnastic background as well as her extremely little criminal history also her desire to rehabilitate herself shown brightly on her behalf set her apart from others in the overall selection process.
Ando Matsumora, Fresno California, a former member of the Yellow Dragon Triad; a highly technologically enhanced criminal syndicate out of China, Ando’s many years of training in various martial disciplines made him an essential candidate for “Project Genesis”.
Carla Williams, federal prisoner convicted for several acts of eco-terrorism, she was caught releasing several hundred test animals that were being frail to test nerve gases as well as other lethal toxins used in the course of war. Carla’s highly compartmental and analytical mind made her inclusion in “Project Genesis” an easy decision for the committee to make.
Caleb Matheson, hired muscle and enforcer for the Giavessi crime family, was not such an easy decision to develop. His incredible natural strength aside, Caleb was serving a significant sentence for several attempted murders and assaults on enemies of the Giavessi’s and did not normally qualify for the program. However, Senator Maxwell Matheson was Caleb’s uncle and a very substantial member of the committee and after valuable pressures that were brought on behalf of Caleb’s mother, the Senator’s sister, Caleb was admitted into “Project Genesis”.
However, every addition to “Project Genesis” was championed or looked upon with great regard. Many selectees were chosen due their overwhelming brutal efficiency and heartless, cold precision.
William Robertson, boy genius and notorious cybercriminal, was included because his extremely high intelligence was just too high to ignore and you would rather have him on your side than against you.
Finally, the most infamous and questionable addition to “Project Genesis”, the Menez brothers. Each brother on his hold has been a brutal, ruthless criminal, each specializing in his own criminal genius, but together they are virtually unstoppable.
After the initial orientation, training began with the requisite physical, psychological, and medical evaluation. Each evaluation has been designed to put a baseline with which to chart and measure the progress of each evaluation subjects. Once the evaluations have been completed, the physical training began. Along with daily physical training, each participant had been given intravenous supplements, which they were told would aid with hydration and fatigue.
The true nature of “Project Genesis” had not been revealed until one fateful morning when the improbable happened.
Chapter 3
During the early morning hours, the fire alert alarms in section C-02 had been activated. As the HAZMAT/Fire team scrambled to extinguish the flames, they discovered that this was not any normal fire. As the flames began to die down, it was then that it was discovered that Tasha’s quarters was at the center of the flames, but she was no where to found and the worse was assumed.
As the search concluded, the HAZMAT/fire team found something that amazed some and delighted the research scientist. There she was Tasha stood, unscathed, unburned, and unclothed. No one could define why, especially Tasha. There was no explanation as to how Tasha could have survived the fire, no less come through without a single scar or burn.
Days later, several equally extraordinary phenomenons began to astound to research and development teams at Shenadoah Mountain. The participants of “Project Genesis” exhibited Powers and abilities beyond the wildest dreams of everyone.
During a routine physical evaluation, Mustafa began to reveal an extremely aversion to any illumination. As the day continued, he could stand even the slightest light. As the military scientist assigned to monitor Mustafa approached his quarters, Dr. Lindstrum noticed that all of the lights in the section were inoperative. She made several request for the lights in section C-05 were illuminated, but to her amazement the lights were registering at full power. When she entered, Mustafa’s quarters, she realized that the source of the darkness was in fact, Mustafa; he developed the ability to not only obtain shadow, but to shroud any and all light sources and design absolute darkness.
Ando Matsumora had never needed any kind of prodding to win him to train. Every morning he would wake at 4:00am and he would depart through the same training regime that he had used since he was 12 years old and today was no different. He began his workout with a light jog into a brisk run and that is when it happened. As he began to accelerate, Ando’s speed increased to incredible rates. He began to move faster and faster, until all that could be seen was a gray and blue blur. But what Ando saw from his perspective was no colors at all. It appeared that the world around him had approach to a complete discontinuance. There were no colors or no sounds. When he came to a terminate, the researchers were at a lost for words. They told him that they tracked him at 1,256 mph. Ando’s ability to run at incredible speeds was just the top of the iceberg, his urge carried over to everything that he could do, including his fighting skills.
A proximity alert began to wale in part C-06. This alert meant that one of the participants could be located. The missing person was veteran eco-terrorist, Carla Williams. She has been undetectable for the past few hours. Several apprehension teams have been dispatched to return her to custody and prepare her for removal from “Project Genesis”. But as suddenly as her locator beacon disappeared, it reappeared. Carla emerged from her quarters with a look of bewilderment, she told everyone that she had not left her quarters all night, she was sleeping. She was placed under tight video surveillance for next few days. Honest then the revelation of exactly what had happened. Video evidence proved that indeed Carla did not leave her quarters but she had transformed into a being that would not have detected on normal monitoring systems. Carla had transformed into a small furry animal and stayed asleep to entire night. Her newfound abilities to transform into any animal, large or shrimp, both scared her and amazed her handlers.
Already a genius, William became of his newfound abilities outside of the watchful eyes of the research teams of Shenadoah Mountain. He noticed that his automated systems that had been installed to assist him were responded before he would ask them for assistance. Then random computer terminals appear to flare up or shut down when he would enter or leave their presence. His ability to control technology enabled him to alter and disable the surveillance systems in his section, leaving his handlers in the dark concerning his abilities…for the time being.
Antonio, Bernardo, and Alejandro Menez have always been a force to be reckoned with. Individually they each are experts at several different specialties. Antonio has used his considerable skills as a satisfactory cracker, third memoir man, and a pickpocket. Bernardo has been known to be an expert marksman and tactician. Alejandro has the constitution of a heavy weight fighter and he was considered one of the best drivers in the world. Since choosing to come to “Project Genesis”, they have become even more lethal. Their already close-knit relationship has been transformed into a symbiotic collective. They judge as one, they move as one, and now they are one.
But not all of the astonishing changes were considered a blessing.
Chapter 4
Early in the morning, Caleb Matheson woke up in sort of a fog. He felt like a ton of bricks had fallen on. Every step he took felt as if he was walking through cement. As moved slowly through the hallways of the facility, Caleb began to transform in a most unexpected way. Caleb had always been considered an extremely tall young man, but as he began to transform, he grew taller than ever before, then his skin would change. Not only did his skin transform in color, but texture as well as overall density.
John was the very last of the ten to transform, but when he did acquire his abilities, they were far beyond anything he or anyone else could’ve imagined. At first, everyone thought John had just develop the ability to move at incredible speeds, unprejudiced like Ando could, but that was just the beginning. As John began to test the limits of his abilities, new and amazing powers began to appear. First, John developed increased strength, enabling him lift more than 100 tons, then all of his senses improved beyond any known testing range. John was given the ability to see through any substance, as well as see at vast distances, also his eyes produced a purple beam that could lop through any substance, and he could also hear the slightest sound at any distance. His overall resistance to pain and crude temperatures rose to levels of nigh invulnerable. John also developed the amazing ability to exist in a non-oxygenated environment. But the one ability to really blow everyone away was the ability that also blew John’s mind, he could…fly!
As the various abilities of the group became more and more apparent, General Arrington, “Project Genesis’s” commanding officer, called the group together to explain how and what was exactly happening to them. As they all sat together in the facilities main auditorium, John and the other participants wondered what the General and the scientists wanted to tell them.
Chapter 5
As General Arrington introduced himself, Mustafa spoke up out of the rear corner, “What is this all about? “
General Arrington responded, “Well, this is about what exactly is going on with you and why you are exhibiting so many changes. To define more, I present to you Dr. Allen Spencer. Dr. Spencer can you come up here, please? “
Dr. Allen Spencer, Shenadoah Mountain’s head of research and development, approached the podium. “Ladies and gentlemen, I am Dr. Spencer. I would like to open with a little background so that we can all begins with the same frame of reference. Okay? “
Just then a titanic screen appeared from the top of the auditorium and a series of newsreels began to play. Over the next 6 and half hours, the newsreel explained that in 1945 at the Army Air Corp Base No. 51 in Roswell, New Mexico during a routine patrol, two corporals come upon a craft that appeared to have landed in the desert. After careful inspection, one of the corporals attempted to enter the craft. Just then, a strange purple ray shot out of the craft striking the corporal and killing him. The remaining corporal returned fire and caused the alien craft to crash with an explosion. As the corporal approached the craft, a strange radiation began to emanate from the craft.
All at once the alien pilot lunged at him. A fierce battle ensued.
As each combatant raged, blow after blow caused the alien’s wound to spew a purplish color blood. Each warrior several wounds, but only the alien’s wounds proved to be fatal. As the battle finally came to an end, the corporal stood alone covered in the purple blood of his fallen adversary.
Returning wait on to base, the injured corporal was carrying his fallen comrade and in tow he had recovered the alien craft as well as its pilot. After several hours of debriefing, the corporal was escorted under heavy guard to have his wounds and injuries tended to, and that is when the most incredible thing was discovered…all of his wounds were healed.
They weren’t unprejudiced healing or even just feeling better; it was as if he had never been injured in the first situation. All designate of the anecdote battle for his life were gone. The alien blood must have caused a genetic mutagenic reaction inside of the corporal, causing spontaneous healing and regrowth of tissue, skin and bone. After a elephantine dissection and thorough examination of the alien bodies and their craft, the scientist of Base no. 51 discovered that the miraculous regenerative healing properties were not limited to only healing wounds and mending broken bones.
During a routine physical, the corporal began to exhibit extraordinary levels of increased strength and invulnerability to harm. The corporal continued to expose astounding psychic abilities as well. He could hear the thoughts of the scientist, he could move objects with mind, and he also could create invisible shields and force fields with his mind. As soon as the scientist of Base no. 51 realized what he could do, he was placed under 24 hour surveillance and observation and the Pentagon were contacted.
At the Pentagon, high-ranking officials began to mobilize their absorb research team to go to Base no. 51 and confirm the test results. If the test results are good, they were instructed to begin to reverse engineer the process and reproduce the abilities for possible military application and distribution.
After dissection and examination of the alien body, the scientist of Immoral no 51 inspect unique medical properties in the alien’s blood, also through the careful reverse engineering of the alien technology recovered from alien craft, resulted in a significant leap forward in human technology and a giant ability for subsequent invention and innovations.
As the General continued, he revealed that not only had the alien blood healed the corporal’s wounds but it had also enhanced his strength as well as his resistance to physical manufacture. As a result, the military scientists attempted to recreate the changes, only to view that it was not as simple as they had thought. So over the course of the next 40 years, the scientific research department of Immoral no51 was able to recreate the corporal’s amazing transformation only once, Titan.
Titan was and always has been a unique military asset. He initially was used strictly in conjunction with the corporal in special/black-ops missions. But after many years of service to his country, Titan felt that his considerable talents and abilities could yield greater results for the greater good of the world. So he agrees to continue to receive special assistance from the military in exchange for participating in the occasional special/black-ops mission. Up until Titan’s death, the military took an indirect approach concerning Titan’s fearless activities. For the first time, the General began to exhibit just emotion when talking about Titan, his intrepid deeds, and his original death. As the General’s emotions began to get the best of him, he was forced to hand to remainder of the presentation over to the head of research and development, Dr. Allen Spencer.
Dr. Spencer continued to explain unbiased how the scientists of Base no51 and Shenandoah Mountain worked for 40 years to perfect and recreate the transformation of the corporal and Titan. He went on to clarify how Project Genesis came to be and what the original purpose was and is. He described that Project Genesis was originally created to have soldiers endued with extraordinary abilities based on the physiology of the alien’s DNA, but when the first the volunteers began to present signs of transformation and abilities, they were not exactly what the scientist had expected. But the changes did not conclude at mere abilities; many of the transformations had significantly deformed and disfigured many of the soldiers. As the experiments continued, the powers that be decided that the lives of too many highly trained young men and women was too high, so they decided to go in a different direction.
The different direction that they decide was an old law used once during the Civil War, allowing the military to offer non-violent criminals the opportunity to volunteer in exchange for their freedom. Under this law, the committee gained unprecedented access to the national database of the nation’s correctional facilities. “Through careful deliberation and significant senatorial support, the committee chose the 10 of you to be the first participants of Project Genesis,” stated Dr. Spencer.
Silence and shock grabbed the room like a vice. Then all at once, everyone launch to speak. At first, with everyone speaking, no one could be understood. Then as the noise began to die down, one voice could be heard saying “Does this mean that we are in the army, now? “
“No,” replied Dr. Spencer, “your original agreements will be honored. It just means that you 10 are the first in line of possibly a new breed of human beings.”
As a loud rumble of several incoherent conversations rolled throughout the audience, a loud converse rang out, “People, people quiet, all of your questions will be answered in due time, but for now there are several tests to be performed.” And with that, the second stage of Project Genesis began.
Chapter 6
Each of them was assigned a different group of scientists to gauge the extent and limits of their respective new found abilities. Monitoring everything from strength to speed, from resistance to pain to mutagenic transformations, their abilities were taken to their limits so that they might be measured and catalogued.
During a routine testing session, in the zero-G room, John began to exhibit an interesting new unique ability. In this zero gravity, non-atmospheric environment, where each candidate has been tested to determine their respective ability’s viability in more hostile environments, John had been using his unique found speed and strength, when the most amazing thing occurred, the vacuum seal of the his atmospheric suit failed.
Now, as per SOP, when a suit’s seal malfunctions, there are monitors who will be alerted and repairs are made immediately. But this time, there was no alert sent out and there were no repairs made. For close to 35 minutes, unbeknownst to John and the scientists monitoring him, John existed and thrived without any kind of oxygen. When the alert was sounded, looks of astonishment were displayed noticeably on the faces of the scientists. It appears that in addition to the varied assortment of abilities that John now possessed, he can hold himself in a non-oxygenated environment, indefinitely.
As the six months came to its end, John and the others felt as if they had been reborn. Many of them were physically stronger, others were faster, while others could manipulate their environments, and they felt as if they could do anything. Even though the scientist of Base no51 felt like they needed more time with them, General Arrington kept his word and began to arrange the necessary transports needed to return each of them, home.
Although, many of them now had the abilities to make their hold ways home, the committee wanted to maintain as rude a profile as possible. This was fine for many of them, especially John, because this was his first time in a private plane. It was like nothing that he had ever experienced. Every kind of food and drink was available, he didn’t even have to get up and get it there was a flight attendant to cater to his every wish. Plasma screen TV’s, plush lounge chairs, in-flight movies; everything beyond his wildest imagination, all at his fingertips. And yet all that John could judge about was Mary and Angel, his wife and daughter.
Coming home, clean record, pocket full of money, and an entirely new future, he could finally become the man that he had always tried, unsuccessfully, to become.
So, as the morning came, a fleet of private planes began their long journeys to return these brave volunteers back to the regular world. As John’s plane landed and a government car pulled up to his home, John began to show unbiased how much this opportunity meant to him, he began to cry…home, finally home.
Chapter 7
John rang the door, and waited to peer the faces of his sparkling wife, Mary and his lovely daughter, Angel. As the seconds elapsed, he wondered to himself, “Will they welcome me home or will they ask me to leave? ” A million thoughts flew through his mind. Anticipation built up into anxiousness, from anxiousness to worry, and from wretchedness to fear, then the door opened and standing there amazed and surprised was John’s wife, Mary, and she couldn’t occupy her eyes.
Even though John wrote home almost every week, he was not allowed to tell anyone about the program or that he would be receiving an early release. So, when Mary saw him standing there a chubby four years before he was supposed to be released, there were no words to explain the innumerable amounts of emotions that ran rampant through her. So, many that all she could do was stand there and cry. Just then John’s daughter, Angel can to explore why her mother had begun to sob at the door, and to her amazement there stood her father. And without hesitation, Angel leapt into John’s arms and began to yowl as well. In between the tears, you could hear Angel saying, “Daddy, you’re home. You’re Home.” John held Angel close and looked down at his crying wife and replied, “That’s factual, baby girl, I’m home and I ain’t ever going leave again.” And John waved to car waiting outside, walked into the house, and closed the door.
Chapter 8
Years Later…
John had settled back into his normal everyday life. He had taken burly advantage of his expunged characterize and the $100,000 that the military had given him in exchange for him volunteering with Project Genesis. He got a great job as a Math teacher for the past 4 years and had kept his promise to work everyday and to quit out of trouble and to cease home with family. He also has kept his numerous abilities a secret. However, there had been times when he has had utilize them to end a runaway bus from running a group of children down or to extinguish a fire the fire service could not reach. Beside situations like those he, for the most piece, has stayed under the radar.
Unfortunately, that cannot be said of the Menez brothers or William Robertson. They have not chosen to take advantage of the new lease on life or the clean criminal records. They have, however, chosen to team up to plan and execute considerable more elaborate criminal enterprises.
The Menez brothers have shed their family name in lue of another, The Collective. Their ability to pool their minds into a “hive mind”, they have been able to think as one, act as one, and be psychically linked no matter how far away from each other they are. They have used their increased cognitive abilities to plan, execute, over 100 banks robberies, without leaving one single trace of evidence.
William Robertson, already a boy-genius gone badly, has also seen no reason not to continue terrorizing the public. His newfound ability to psychically access and control any electronic device has left Wall Street reeling. In just a few years, he has changed the very fortunes of the worlds wealthiest and bankrupted some of the world’s largest corporations.
Many of the others have lived under the ever-present anxiety that the public will view them as a threat. Tasha Harris has used her abilities to help only to be told that she was not wanted due to her unusual abilities. Mustafa Mohammed went back to Chicago only to be shunned by the very community the he once called home. Without the support of family, friends, and the community, most of them have don’t have a home to return to.
Carla Williams chose a different path. She decided to leave America and travel to Africa and exercise her gifts to discontinuance poaching and the wholesale slaughter of many of the worlds’ most magnificent animals. Caleb Matheson has not been able to return to his original shape or form, so he has chosen to leave normal society and wander the caves of the Rocky Mountains, many times being mistaken for Bigfoot.
Ando Matsumora was the only one not to return home. He remained at Shenandoah Mountain. Ando felt honor bound to work to redeem himself for the years he spent on the side of criminals. He continued his training and eventually went on to replace Titans as the committees’ “Hero-at-large”. He has weak his abilities to help stop genocide in South America, overthrow a rouge nation in Central Africa, and to rescue hostages in Eastern Europe.
Despite the disguises, the careful movements, and the clandestine operation, none of it has escaped the watchful eye of the committees’ network of highly advanced orbital satellites. Prior their release each one of the 10 subjects were implanted with a subdural transponder chip at the foul of the right ear. This chip allows the committee to track them no matter how fast they move or what form they take.
Meanwhile at Shenandoah Mountain, they have continued their 50-year desire to create a super powered soldier. Reverting back to the ranks of combat volunteers, the committee has been successful only once, Lt. Commander Harland Travers. Travers was a Special Forces office was injected with the serum and initially had shown no signs of alteration, until he began to absorb ambient radiation. He later developed the ability to convert that same energy into non-lethal or lethal discharges. With this breakthrough, the committee felt confident that they had finally acquired another “Hero-at-large”, that was until the Cherry Hill incident.
Chapter 9
Nestled in the middle of the picturesque Blue Mountains in North Carolina sat Cherry Hill. To the outside world, Cherry Hill is a very unassuming little town. It’s a company town, founded to occupy the needs of a bustling coal mining business at the turn of the 20th century. When the coal mine dried up and the other businesses moved on the much larger cities, Cherry Hill all but died, that was until the Cherry Hill Nuclear Energy Processing and Enrichment Facility opened in behind 1989. Replacing the lost coal mining jobs and providing much needed power to thousands of homes in North Carolina as well as in the neighboring states of South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia, Cherry Hill was also the main supplier of enriched uranium to the US military for its nuclear research and weapons programs.
Normally, Cherry Hill goes without watch. All systems are green and up to code. But today, Cherry Hill coolant system has begun to malfunction and the radioactive materials housed within are beginning to near a principal temperature.
As the ambient core temperature of the reactor continues to raise, one of Cherry Hill’s technicians notice and he begin to open the emergency coolant to relive pressure and to cool the reactor core to acceptable levels. As the technician learns, he begun the emergency procedure too leisurely, there is no draw to cool the core off to prevent a system-wide cascade core breach.
The highly trained and efficient HAZMAT/Nuclear Emergency Response Team is called in to assess and return operational control back to the technicians at Cherry Hill, but today reinsertion of the control rods are not resulting in the lowering of the ambient temperature of the reactor core. As the rads continue to elevate, the committee takes advantage on this position and they order the immediate withdrawal of the HAZMAT team in order to send in Lt. Travers.
As Lt. Travers is prepped to enter the facility, the general vicinity is evacuated as a precaution and the HAZMAT response team is placed on standby. He begins to make his initial attempt to exercise his abilities and absorbs the radiation in the facility room-by-room. As Travers moves closer to the reactor core, the scientists of Shenandoah Mountain are monitoring his vital signs as well as the levels of radiation absorption and dissipation.
Elsewhere, during his lunch wreck, John is also watching with high anticipation the outcome of the Cherry Hill accident, because if it is shown that people with abilities can be of some spend to society, then maybe, just maybe he can use his abilities to aid. He would not have to hide them anymore.
Just then, the scientists registered a spike in the radiation absorption without the corresponding spike in dissipation, and then Travers containment suit began to rupture. The larger the rupture, the higher the radiation spike grew. Then the ambient temperature of the surrounding area began to rise. The rate of radiation dissipation had come to a screeching halt and no longer did Travers seem to be converting the perilous levels of radiation, but he continued to absorb them. He also began to show signs of cascade failure and his considerable signs began to present signs of degradation.
Just then, in Capital City, John had stepped away from the television to finish grading papers when he heard the news reporter mentioned that there seems to be some kind of problem and the ambient temperature had risen to high for the camera crew to continue to follow Lt. Travers. John began to use his enhanced hearing to hear for himself just what was going on at Cherry Hill.
Although John had never attempted to use his abilities to this extent before, he sat in his chair and tried to focus on the Lieutenant’s vow. As he did, it was as if he reached across the country and began to hear Traver’s voice as well as the frantic rants of the scientists. John also heard Traver’s containment suit rupturing expanding even farther. So, without a second plan, John moved with a speed that would not have been thought possible.
Faster and faster John flew. Over mountains, through valleys, across rivers, lakes, and streams. John continued to accelerate until he was impartial a dull purple slur across the afternoon sky. John gash through the air, shattering glass and causing a shockwave knocking out power all across the eastern seaboard.
Straining every fiber in his being, John reached Cherry Hill just as Traver’s suit cracked. Radiation spilling out everywhere. John did not hesitate. He continued to accelerate towards Lt. Travers, he reached out and grabbed him, pulling Travers out of the facility and flew as high and as hastily as he could with all of his might.
Just as John reached the upper atmosphere, John heard Lt. Travers say, “I couldn’t stop absorbing the radiation. I just couldn’t cessation. I’m sorry.” With all of his strength, John hurtled Lt. Travers into deep space. John used his enhanced visual abilities to see him explode in a brilliant bright bluish-orange ball of nuclear fire.
As John floated there in the upper atmosphere, he thought that he saw a glimmer of some kind of metallic substance, but as he attempted to get a more focused examine, the shockwave of the explosion reached all the way back to where John had been floating in the upper atmosphere, knocking back down to earth.
Chapter 10
Midway through the atmosphere, John regains consciousness and begins the long flight home. As he turns to fly attend to his home in Capital City, high above the earth in a geosynchronous orbit, laid a satellite dwelling to track motion even at hypersonic speeds. This satellite is the property of the committee and they have used it to support track and monitor the comings and goings of the 10 Project Genesis test subjects. This time the satellite has been in a real-time relay mode, relaying all of the heroic actions of subject John Phillips, from the moment he began his acceleration in Capital City until he began to descend into his flight home.
“Cherry Hill would’ve ended very badly and there would’ve been nothing that we could’ve done about it,” stated the committee chair, “that is if not for the heroic actions of subject Phillips.”
“Yes, the devastation would’ve been greater than that of Chernobyl,” said the only female on the committee.
“We must increase surveillance on subject Phillips as well as the other test subjects, they might prove quite useful, one day,” commented another committee member.
Chapter 11
As the months went by, John woke up in a cold sweat. He has been having very vivid nightmares about Lt. Travers and his last words. Over and over, John’s mind replayed the last words of the Lieutenant, “…I’m sorry.” But tonight, Mary found John curled up into a ball in the corner, crying and shaking.
She looked at him at asked him was he okay? For a moment, he just stared off into the darkness of the room, then he looked up at his wife and he spoke, “There is something that I need to utter about my last six months of prison.”
She looked at him and told, “John it doesn’t matter, you’re home now and you don’t have to tell me if you can’t bear to.”
At that moment John realized why he married her, that she was such a loving and understanding woman, but that realization made it all the more indispensable that he tell her about Project Genesis and how it has changed him.
So, there in the darkened bedroom, John hesitated, took a deep breath, and began to speak, “During the last six months that I was in prison, I participated in an early release program sponsored by the US Military called Project Genesis. They promised an early release, a spruce criminal describe, and money, so me and 9 others volunteered for the program. They used an experimental serum designed for the military to augment combat soldiers. It was meant to give soldiers more strength, speed, and durability.”
And as John was just beginning to tell Mary more about Project Genesis, there came a knock at the front door. Both John and Mary thought, “Who could it be at this time in the morning? “
Angel, John’s daughter, had fallen asleep on the couch and heard the knock at the door. So, she woke up and went to answer the door to see who it could be. As she peered through the peephole and saw nothing but darkness. She called out, “Who is there? “
From the other side of the door answered, “We are here to explore, John Phillips. May we see him? “
So, Angel called out to her father, “Dad, there are some people here to ogle you.” And she began to open the door, at first sight, she couldn’t believe her eyes and she let out a blood-curdling scream.
John was already on his way towards the front door, but then he heard Angel’s scream which made his accelerate with the speed of thought. Mary amazed at the rate of speed by which John had moved, arrived at the front door admittedly later than him, but she was even more surprised at what awaited her at the door. Mary gasped and pulled Angel behind her.
Standing in the doorway were five people of such incredible description, that if she didn’t see it her self, she would not have believed it, but John greeted them like they had been long lost family. For they all shared a common bond, Project Genesis. Their unique bond and common circumstances will connect them forever and the truth of what happen will bind them as well.
There they stood. Five members of John’s other family. Mustafa, Tasha, Ando, Carla, and hiding off in the bushes (unsuccessfully) were Caleb. As the emotions welled up inside him, John didn’t know what to do first, he didn’t know to be happy beyond words or be concerned that they were here in his doorway.
At that moment, Mustafa interrupted his emotional overload, “John, we too, are joyful to view you, may we continue this reunion inside, because it appears that we are drawing quite to crowd.”
So excited, was John that he neglected to ogle that the Sun had begun to rise and his neighbors were beginning to wake, some who were already staring at John’s friends, especially at Caleb. “Of course…near in! Caleb, you can advance through the garage.”
Chapter 12
As John welcomed his friends, there was ring at the doorbell; Mary went to answer it thinking that Caleb was unable to get in through the garage. Just then, John heard the crackling of high voltage electricity and the screech of someone giving the order to fire when the door opens. Before anyone could react, faster than the speed of light John had moved to block Mary from what was the discharge of a lightning rod, a military weapons initially designed to controlled and temporarily stun John, but this time it had no effect, except make him angry.
200 milliamps of electricity would be fatal to any normal human, it would have put Titan down without query, but it didn’t even faze John. He brushed aside the prongs as if they were mere mosquitoes, but what it did attain was enrage him. And he turned to attack the shooter. With eyes a deep purple blaze, John’s entire body coursed with energy, enough to cause the very hairs of the back of your neck to rise. Even though they had not been together in years, all at once the training they receive at Shenandoah Mountain came flooding back. With one word, the members of Project Genesis had launched into Omega Dark, a battle formation which would pool their considerable abilities and focus them onto the military units who had chosen the wrong time in which to attack one of their own. As they prepared to unleashed Omega Dark, a very familiar voice rang and ordered for the military units to stand down, it was General Arrington.
Chapter 13
General Arrington, Head of Advanced Military Research and Development at Shenandoah Mountain were here, standing in front of John’s home. Commanding a battalion of specially trained soldiers briefed and trained to neutralize John and his friends. The peer of General Arrington created a true conflict inside of John emotionally. On one hand, he felt gratitude towards the general because he gave John his family back, but then he also promised that the military would leave them alone and here he is with a battalion trained to take him and his kind down like some kind of monsters.
Arrington requested that he speak with John, before a full-scale war broke out in the middle of ’suburbia’. Arrington pulled John aside and told him that the committee had been tracking him and the other Project Genesis members via highly advanced surveillance satellite network. Arrington pointed towards the sky, and said. “You can see them from here can’t you, if not why don’t you fly up there and see for yourself? “
John looked up at the sky, then towards Mary, saying, “There are so many things that I need to tell you and I will, but please wait here, I will be right back in a moment.” And with those words, John flew straight up into the early morning sky, leaving Mary and Angel looking on in amazement. As Mary fainted from the shock, Angel cheered, “Go Daddy, Go!”
Higher and higher John flew. By now, flying has become second nature and somewhat of an speed for John. Sometimes, it seemed as if the very birds were a little jealous, because now they would have to share the sky with John, but up he flew. Until he reached the vastness and emptiness of situation.
No sound in the blackness of area, but John knew what to look for. There they were six highly advanced, possibly stolen alien technologies, extremely expensive surveillance satellites. Each satellite emblazoned with insignia of the committee.
With incredible run, John rounded up each satellite and hurtled them into the deepness and blackness of space. Using his laser vision, shot to sizable, remarkable beams of light towards. In spectacular fashion, the satellites exploded, remind him of Lt. Travers and as he regained his vision that is when for the first time he saw them. Warships, alien warships…reminiscence of the warships from Shenandoah Mountain. And they were headed towards Earth.
Chapter 14
As John returned to Earth, he immediately alerted General, “General, we got bigger problems than the committee and their satellites! I just saw what appears to be an alien armada on its procedure…here! The Warships glance alike like the one that you guys have back at Shenandoah Mountain.”
“This is what we feared for 50 years,” admitted General Arrington.
“What do you mean, ‘This is what you’ve feared for 50 years,’” yelled John, “How long have you guys known that this was going to happen, General? “
“Come on, John. Use that super enhanced brain of yours. Where exactly do you think that ship back at the mountain came from? ” General Arrington sarcastically added, “They have finally approach objective like they said they would, to claim what was theirs.”
General Arrington went on to explain, “That back in 1947, there was an alien invasion, of sorts. The same alien armada, they called themselves the Grotesques, came down in ships, requesting that the US Military return their ship and their dead comrades, but the US Military denied any knowledge of the alien craft or its occupants. That lie touched off an invasion that would’ve destroyed the world and all of its inhabitants, if not for the heroic actions of the Corporal and a very man who the world would later know as Titan.
The war spilled out over into the neighboring towns and cities, until the US Military could no longer hide or cover up the existence of aliens or their research. So, when the truth was exposed, the US government and its military took, understandably, a great hit, trust wise, but the other nations of the world came together to devise a concept to rid them of this planetary threat.
They gather every person who might possess extraordinary abilities and placed them on the frontlines of this, possibly the last battle mankind would ever fight. The battle was massive, never before, had anyone seen so grand power or so much heroism. Before that time, there had always been a belief that there was a large population of persons who possessed great powers and abilities, but no one could’ve fathom the numbers of people who had shown true power.
There were pyro-kinetics, flyers, those who possessed incredible speed and strength, also the number of psychically endowed people, was astounding. All of these heroes banded together to fight for the lives of a world on the brink of destruction. The aliens were not without their own forces.
These alien invaders had their own shock troops, Brutes; they were beasts with the technology to augment their own incredible strength. The Brutes were outfitted with weapons of such power that they appeared to yield fire and lightning. They didn’t necessarily need those weapons, they were strong to bulrush through any normal battalion of soldiers and they were unbiased as competent to command their own versions of a massive battle tank, called the Annihilator.
The demented genius behind these horribly efficient and destructive weapons, were their weaponeers, The Aegis; these little genius, could take any ordinary weapon and transform it into a massively destructive piece of machinery. Their genius didn’t discontinuance at just weapons, they’d also shown an insanely, gruesome aptitude at genetic manipulation. These masters of warfare, captured many of the Earth’s most dangerous and ferocious animals and altered them into alien hybrids used as mounted steeds for the Grotesque’s Special Operations forces, the Talon.
When the dust settled, we lost millions of the greatest heroes and heroines the world had ever seen, but just as important the alien armada had suffered great losses. So much, that they were forced to reconsider their invasion and leave our galaxy.
The Search for Alien Intelligence - Not Just for Tabloids
