The Wastelands

Many Years Ago.

He moved through a long corridor following the path of flickering light. This place had always given off an eerie atmosphere. Kenneth Keel couldn't help but shiver whenever he walked its enclosed walls. The whole place was dirty and falling apart.

No wonder, it was an abandoned old hospital. Dr. Remoras' claimed that this is the only lab remotely equipped with the instruments she needs to continue her experiment without being noticed.

'It was the kind of place where Monsters are born.' Kenneth snorted and smiled at the irony of his thoughts as he keyed in the password and walked through the doors into the only working lab in the entire building.

Sitting at the computer was the Mad Genius herself, Dr. Ramirez, his boss. 'Or slave-driver.' She pretty much ignored his existence unless she wanted something from him. Well, it's understandable he was the tech head, only suitable for keeping the equipment running and doing mundane chores.

"Hello," Kenneth turned towards the sweetest voice in the world, and he just knows that his feelings were plastered on his face. There stood Dr. Ramirez's lab assistant, the brilliant as well as beautiful, Melanie Spencer.

"Melanie," Kenneth greeted, trying to act cool, "how are the kiddies, tucked in safely in bed?" he asked in a teasing manner. But he truly wanted to know, he and the people in this lab practically gave up their life to resurrect them; hope they appreciate it, the little brats.

He was glancing beyond this room through the glass that separates the two rooms. There sat six tubes housing six children, three boys and three girls, the oldest looked no older than six. The room was quarantined, so it could only be accessed wearing protective gear.

They were the last undeveloped fragments of the feared Lumeye race. Many years ago, capsules housing many alien lifeforms were discovered. Scientists jumped at the chance to recreate new forms. Especially if it would advance their own technology all the better. Though it turned out the alien species, named the Lumeye, were the boogeymen who was responsible for ripping the world apart and creating the Wastelands. A neverending forest, unleashing defensive plant-life and animals upon humanity. Plus, the Vine virus that plagued the world. Well, at least, that was how the story goes.

Even now, labs were destroyed if there was a hint of repeating the Lumeye experiments. They were arresting the scientists for crimes against humanity.

Why risk everything to create six Lumeye children? One answer, Dr. Ramirez. Her grandfather was one of those scientists that were prosecuted. She was doing this to finish his work. The thing was the samples she managed to retrieve were contaminated.

Even contaminated, Dr. Ramirez wasn't displeased, she could see the potential in the genes' imperfection. She implied gene therapy using compatible genes from her own staff members to repair the damage.

Why was Kenneth helping out? He glanced at his hand, where there was a Vine-like pattern fluttering out from his sleeve. Kenneth contracted the Vine-virus when he was just a kid. The Ripples, an atmospheric anomaly, hit his home town. Kenneth was the only one in his family to survive.

He was helping Dr. Ramirez because the Lumeye had better immune systems than humans. If studying their biology will help save more from the Vine Virus, than he was all for it.

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP.

Snapping him out his own world and brought him back into reality.

"Look, look, look." Melanie was practically dancing with excitement grabbing his arm in the process. "Drucilla is dreaming," she said, excited. "This is so great this is the first time, and if they can dream, let's just say it is only the first step!!!"

"You know that you shouldn't name them." He scowled. "it is not good for you to get attached."

"Come on, stop being a worrywart," she pouted. "It is just a name I can't very well call them subject one and subject two, it is so boring."

If he didn't know how much higher her IQ was than his…but, this was cute too.

"Can you two shut up and get back to work." gritted out Dr. Ramirez, her silver eyes, burning a hole in his c.h.e.s.t. "It's early, and I am too low on caffeine to watch your mating ritual."

"Sorry, Dr. Ramirez." They stated together, a little embarrassed.

"And by the way, coffee," she insisted, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Fine." Kenneth huffed and began to get her Majesty her beverage. But Melanie stopped him before he could take another step. "We talk later," she whispered. She adjusted her glasses before giving him a wink.

"Yeah." Walking to the coffee pot, trying to be cool as a cuc.u.mber, but on the inside, he is crying out with glee. This is the best day of his life.

***

The red lights were flashing, as Kenneth rushed in. He ran to the monitors. "Damn, the Cities Guard has found us. It will probably take them thirty minutes to find the hidden door that leads into the bas.e.m.e.nt!"

"Then there's no time to waste," Dr. Greenwood said, coming out of nowhere. "Dr. Spencer, I want you to prep the tubes to be opened. We only have…. How much time do we have, Mr. Keel?"

Kenneth watched the Guard, the Cities elite soldiers, swarming on the monitors. They were armed, and he couldn't help but focus on those weapons and what they could do to him…to Melanie.

"Mr. Keel!" Dr. Greenwood said again, irritation was evident in her voice.

"Right, sorry!" he said, scrambling to pinpoint the Guard's exact location. "Um, they haven't gotten through the outer defences yet, it probably would take them about twenty to get through another fifteen to find their way down here." Then he checked another monitor and breathed a sigh of relief. "I don't see anyone at the escape tunnels."

Kenneth looked up, and he couldn't believe the conflicted look on Dr. Ramirez's face. "That's not nearly enough time," she muttered underneath her breath, before squaring her shoulders before facing everyone. "Okay, as soon as Dr. Spencer opens the tubes," Dr. Ramirez took a deep breath." I want anyone with any sort of medical training to go with each of the subjects and run. Their survival takes priority."

Dr. Ramirez spoke up, looking up from the control panel, starting up the sequence that opens the tubes. "But their vitals…"

"We don't have time to check their vitals now, that must be done after they are safe. The rest of you destroy or erase everything you can." Before everyone could get to work, Dr. Ramirez stopped them. "Don't touch any equipment attached to the tubes, until the children are safely out." Everyone paused, waiting for further instructions. "What are you waiting for? Go! Go! Go!"

Kenneth felt the wait of Dr. Ramirez's hand on his shoulder. "Keep an eye on those monitors, Mr. Keel, and tell me on our 'friends'' progress."

"Yes, Doctor."

***

Twenty Minutes Later

Kenneth could hear the City's Guard trying into the secret lab…and they were not delicate at all. He had seen an old movie once that had a jackhammer. The drilling sounded precisely like that, but ten times louder. It was shaking the entire room, equipment was falling, it was getting dangerous.

'The Guard doesn't care that they are destroying this place and everyone in it.'

"Kenneth." He looked up from his work to see Melanie with one of the children in her arms, a girl. He recalled that Melanie was having a hard time settling on a name. Maybe because Melanie was the one who used her genes for this little girl. She had gotten so attached to the child.

"You know Lilia was my sister's name," Kenneth spoke up. "Is that why you picked it?"

"I shouldn't have?" asked Melanie.

"No," he denied. " But it would be nice if Lilia had a sister. We could name her after my other sister Stella."

"I was thinking the same thing." He smiled sadly. Kenneth brushed his hand against Melanie's cheek. Then suddenly, the room shook, and Melanie struggled to hold on to the child. He moved to help when Melanie shifted the heavy child.

"Here, let me," Kenneth planned to take her from Melanie's arms, but her hold tightened. So, he simply adjusted Lilia's weight to make it easier for Melanie to carry her. "Why haven't you left yet?" He looked around, seeing that he, Melanie, and Dr. Ramirez were the only ones left.

"I am waiting for you," She said, her voice dripping with worry. "We need to go."

"Go, but…" Kenneth turned towards Dr. Ramirez, who was working away at her terminal.

She barely gave them a glance. "Go, I don't need your bumbling help anyways."

He was highly tempted, but he knew that Dr. Ramirez needed his help, they still have a lot of data to fry and not enough time to do it. "Damn," he cursed before turning towards Melanie. "I have to stay, but you need to go now."

"But…" Melanie objected.

Kenneth patted the young child's head. "For this one's sake."

"I have to tell you something." he interrupted her with a kiss, then pushed her gently towards the secret exit.

"Go."

Melanie gave Kenneth one last look before leaving him behind, and he sealed the door behind her.

"You know she's pregnant, right?" Dr. Ramirez said.

Kenneth formed a sad smile. "I know." If he allowed Melanie to say the words than he would have left right then and there, but Kenneth couldn't, he had to make sure that the Guard wouldn't come after Melanie and the children. He had to make sure that that there wasn't a trail to be followed.

"Okay, let's get to work." Dr. Ramirez

It took a while, but they were almost finished deleting everything when Kenneth looked up to see the ceiling caving in where Dr. Ramirez stood. "Look out!" he shouted, pushing her out of the way.

Then everything went dark.

***

Kenneth couldn't breathe, blood was choking him. And he was pinned. But none of that mattered. He knew that he was dying.

He would have laughed if he had the energy, dying for something that he only half believed in what was the world coming too. But that didn't matter as long that Melanie was safe.

Kenneth could hear the Guard coming closer, shouting and yelling. Wracking everything in their path. The equipment and the considerable power supply needed to run the place he was surprised that they weren't discovered sooner. He guessed that it was part of her influence. But luck always runs out.

"You know I don't practically care about you," A voice said beside him. It was Dr. Ramirez's voice, but he doesn't have the energy to turn his head, "I always thought that you were a moron and a good for nothing. I still do," she continued in a manner of fact way. "But you are loyal," Dr. Ramirez finished saying with a dismissal air.

He stayed silent; this shouldn't concern him, not when he was at death's door. "Why?" he managed to choke out.

"Why am I still here?" she questioned. "Well, I owe you that much, don't I" she didn't have to say anymore. Kenneth was the one who saved her life after all.

Everyone else escaped, that was all that mattered.

'Maybe they'll be smart enough to stay the hell away and never look back.'

"I owe you all that much," she whispered. The noise coming closer and closer.

And the word faded into darkness his last thoughts were of Melanie…and the unborn child he would never get to see.