The Wastelands

Chapter 3 - History (Part 3)

A finger brushed against the screen. A woman who looked a lot like the man on the screen. "Hello Granddad, it's nice to see you again. I came back, and I have a tale to tell you."

Dr. Sara Ramirez withdrew her finger and settled down into the chair. "The government deemed the Lumeye as a threat against humanity, but they were too…useful…to kill. Yes, Granddad, they were conscripted into servitude. Forced to work in hostile environments. It didn't take long for the Lumeye to rebel…with Ayden as their leader. Soon after, a war began." She paused, collecting her thoughts before continuing. "Humanity won, and the Lumeye went into hiding, but that wasn't the end."

"The war was a catalyst for a global event. I don't know how to describe it. Everything was silent. No animal sounds, no trees rustling. It felt like the whole world just stopped working." She smiled bitterly. "There was panic, of course, but it was nothing compared to what happened afterward."

"The world started up again, but plant growth accelerated tremendously, driving everyone to the cities. Building domes to keep the plant life away. The World Government became the Council of Cities just like that." Snapping her fingers. "There, the Wastelands are born, and the world forever changed.

"Then a new weather anomaly dubbed the Ripples. Named due to the Rippling particles falling from the sky. It is…somewhat destructive when hitting ground level. But the most devastating thing about the Ripples is the Vine, a virus that killed an estimated seventy percent of the affected. The remaining thirty presents are left with vine-like markings on their skin and some developed abilities beyond the average human. Like enhanced stronger and speed. Quite frankly, they scare people."

Sara chuckled a little. "Now the Cities are looking for a means to scout for compound locations in the Wastelands. Oh, of course, there is a technique, I am here after all, but what needs to be kept in mind that the Wastelands make the rules, not us."

She stopped talking and sighed, rubbing her temple and growled out. "Will this humming ever stop."

A male voice answered her from the darkness. "At least you can hear something, weak as it may be. You will be grateful for it. If the humming is disrupted, you better run."

"True." Sighing, she wanted a drink.

"Ha Doctor, I found it!" a male said excitedly. She looked up to find a young man with vine markings on his forearm. He had a capsule. "The capsule was exactly where you said it was. It was tough to get to." Oh, course it was hard, Cam wanted it to be as undetectable as possible. Just as the video logs were.

"Mr. Keel, Give it to me." Her tone was sharper than before. He instantly complied. She murmured, "Yes, this is it. It's damaged, but the DNA is still useable. How many signatures? Six, not as many as the other capsules but still…"

"Um, doctor?" interrupted Mr. Keel.

"Yes, Yes." Waving her hand dismissively. "Please load up the truck we need to be gone before the City Guards comes back.

As soon as he left. Sara turned to a dark corner, and the man with a mask stepped out. He is most certainly a Lumeye. "Are you sure about this?"

"Yes, Ayden is a smart man. He wouldn't try to destroy them if they weren't a threat," the man in the mask responded. He clicked his tongue. "The enemies of both Lumeye and Humans. They are going to have a hard life."

Ignoring the last statement. "Are these children linked?"

"Yes, I can guarantee it. Plus, each controls a different element. Very rare." He paused. "Second thoughts?"

She sighed again; she really needed that drink. "No, I made a promise to finish Granddad's project. This is the only way I can to honour his memory… For good or for ill." With the capsule tucked neatly in her carry-on coolant unit. She got up and moved to the door. Pausing before turning back to the video version of her grandfather. "I miss you, Granddad; I will make you proud."

She set the whole room on fire.

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