2nd Chapter Continued 3

“It all began a while ago, maybe a few years. I don’t really know. It was during the ‘golden age’ of science. As people came to the realization that the world we live in is doomed if we continue to live as we do, scientists and laboratories toke charge. Technology was spewing out of factories faster then you could count. And these products were completely green. Computers that ran for days on only a fraction of a charge, cars powered by hydrogen reaching untold speeds with no emission, buildings reaching untold heights made of materials almost indestructible. But the biggest one of them all was the ‘man of the future’. Scientist began re-engineering the human body to only take in what’s necessary to survive. See this” he lifted his shirt and gestured to a metal bolt sticking out of his collar bone. “This device lets me consume only a quart of water a day and survive. It regulates sweat and water consumption. Everyone had these. Then, it all went to hell”

“What do you mean” I said, riveted to the spot

“Science is mans weakness. It was only a matter of time before they looked into changing cells themselves. Soon, a product emerged onto the market that would indirectly destroy humanity. This product was called ‘Blue’. It was ahead of it’s time, and would enhance cells. No one would need glasses, hearing aids or sign language. Cells would enhance themselves to cope with your disability. New superhuman would emerge. Faster, stronger and smarter. It was perfect, ‘until green’”

“What was green?”

“Green was the superior version of blue. Blue would enhance cells, green would increase them. Green pushed it even further. On top of increases that blue couldn’t offer in cells, Regeneration was added into the picture. Cuts would heal in minutes, lost limbs in days. People who couldn’t walk would get out of their wheelchairs and run 1500m in a minute. No one wanted blue anymore. Why take a lesser model when the superior one is available. The company that made blue was infuriated. They went on the war path, but instead of suing green, they went ahead and made Red. Red was the ultimate. No longer would man suffer. Everything was pushed to the max. Dumb people got smart, and smart people were super-geniuses. Athletes would achieve feats beyond imagination. This would revolutionize the world”

“Yeah, I read about it in the flyer”

“Do you still have it?”

“I put it on the table over there”

Erik walks over and picks it up. He skims through it.

“Yeah, it’s all bull. Just talk about how good Red will revolutionize the world”

“Did it?””

“No, it destroyed it. The compound was unstable, but it was released anyway. Now this is only a theory, but this is how I picture it. Red was unstable, and began mutating during shipments. Maybe it was movement, maybe it was contaminated elements. But it turned on us, and became a bio-weapon. Cities were destroyed, continents leveled. This is a testament to the idiocy of man. We shattered the world as we now it. And now we must put the pieces back together if we have any hopes of surviving.”

I stood there for a few minutes, shocked completely. Finally, I said “wow”

“You can say that again” said Erik “I’ve been living on my own. I somehow survived the mutation, and it’s been me and Teets”

“Who’s Teets?”

“My dog, the bellhop”

“Ah”

“Anyway, you’d better get some sleep. Tomorrow, let’s go into town and see what we can scavenge”

“We can just walk in and take what we want?”

“No ones stopping us, the police station has been empty since the attack. Rules of the fallout: you find it, it’s yours.”

“I like the sound of that”

And with that, I went upstairs to sleep.