The
                                                          Genesis
                                                           Project


                                                      Chapter One

It has been said that our planet was once a lush oasis, full of life and magic. The trees stood tall, soaking up the sun and housing the birds as the animals below went about their lives. But if this is really true no one knows for certain. All history of our planet has been erased; and the tales too old to be considered truth, merely legends passed from senile old men and women. Not to mention that any person caught telling such tales are quickly silence by the Corps.

Few, if any, actually know when the Corps came to be, it seems as if they have just always been there, watching over and protecting us from the evils of the world.  The Corps acts as our government, though they are not the actual government of our planet. The Corps came up with a way to create huge amounts of energy, using barely any and since then have rose up the political and corporate ladder to become the most powerful force in existence.


“Maru, pay attention!” my teacher exclaimed, ripping me out of my daydreaming. Today was the last day of school for the year and I couldn't help but lose interest. Today was also my last day of being part of the public, tomorrow I would be a citizen after starting my work with the Corps.

“Sorry,” I said softly and proceeded with looking like I was doing something. It was crazy of my teacher to even have a lesson today, but there was little I could do about it.

Finally, after what seemed like ages the final bell of the day, the final bell of my life, sounded and I was free. I joined my classmates in the halls as we made our way to the transport platform.

“You still joining the Corps tomorrow Maru?” Jase, one of my friends, asks me.

“Yea, can't wait. I wish I could today, but I need a day to pack up my things and whatnot.”

“I can't believe you're going to do that. After what happened,” he said, trailing off and looking away.

“Well...I understand what you mean, but they're giving me a future, and I don't have to be with them forever.”

“True, I just hope you don't get too messed up.”

“Don't worry,” I say, stepping to the platform finally, “Bye Jase.”

“Bye Maru,” he says, waving.

Mere seconds later I'm in my house, as we have our own personal transport platform. It was empty, as usual for this time of day. My parents are still at work. Up in my room I sigh as I look over my things, my many collectibles and such. None of which would be going with me. Clothes, is all the acceptance letter said, just my clothes.

I sifted through my closet, pulling out what I would need and laying them out on my bed. I couldn't help but think about all the things I had experienced growing up, and all the things I might miss out on now that I was a part of the Corps. But this is what my parents would have wanted if they were still alive, my real parents. They would have wanted me to assure my future.

Paul, my adoptive father came in then, his soft voice a comfort in my torrent of emotions. “You sure about this son?”

I shook my head, “No, I'm not. But it's what they would have wanted for me, a future. And the Corps offers that for me.”

“There are other ways though.”

“No, there aren't. This is the only way.”

He sighed softly and nodded, “If that is what you believe then I wish you the best of luck. And you will be missed around here.”

“Thank you Paul,” I said softly, turning back to packing my clothes.


Dr. Vetzkey stared at the computer hologram before him, trying to find the problem with his current molecular structure for Project X. So far no subject had survived for more than 10 days. He thought that the last subject was going to be a break through, as he showed no degenerative signs until the 10th day, and then suddenly died without reason.

An icon lit up in his view and flashed a view times, indicating an incoming call. He activated the feed and was greeted by the recruiting manager Tashid. “Ah, good afternoon Tashid, what brings you to make this call?”

“I hear word that you are in need of a new subject for your tests.”

The doctor nodded in confirmation, “That I do. The last one died suddenly, I still have not determined the reason, but I will be in need of another subject soon.”

“We have a batch of young men coming in tomorrow, would like their files?”

“Please, that would be very helpful.”

“Here you are then, and best of luck in your research, it is paramount for the Genesis Project.”

“Thank you Tashid.”

And with that the call screen went blank, bringing up the files of the newest recruits to be starting tomorrow. Dr. Vetzkey opened the file Tashid sent him, looking over the information on each man. As he flipped through them he noted the few that looked adequate for his purposes, but then one caught his attention. This one would do perfectly for his research, he thought.


I shot up in my bed in a cold sweat, what ever dream had woke me was lost in the river of my subconscious. I looked out my tinted window and could see the sun already blazing down on the desert planet, the sands blowing in the wind.

How could the Corps be as bad as some seem to think, I thought. They have saved us from the environment. They've kept us alive with their technology and energy production plants. We owe everything to them, I thought. And yet, part of me believed something was wrong. I shook it off and got up out of bed, hopping in the shower and washing myself off.

Breakfast was quick, as I had slept in a bit late, and had to be at the Corps office in a few minutes. I hugged Paul and Maddie and thanked them for the great life they had given me. No teary good byes though. They wave goodbye to me as I step onto the transport platform, my destination set for the local Corps office.

I arrived in a moment and was greeted by an elderly woman at the reception desk.

“Hello,” she said in a soft voice, “Welcome to the Corps Office, located in sunny Terristand. How may I direct you?”

Must be a hologram, I thought. “I'm a new recruit scheduled to arrive today.”

“Your name please?”


“Maru Eripio,” Dr. Vetzkey said to Tashid, “He is the one that I will need.”

“Are you sure doctor?” the recruiting manager asked, “We were hoping to utilize his knowledge of microbiology in our future warfare projects.”

“I am sure, he is perfect for what I need. If he lives then you can have him, after I'm finished with all the tests I must run.”

“Very well doctor, I'll have him transferred as soon as he arrives.” Tashid pulled out a portable com unit and called one of the office managers in Maru's area. “There is a recruit that should be showing up soon, a Maru Eripio, as soon as he is there transport him to main HQ and notify me.”

The man on the other end nodded, “Yes sir, I believe that he has already shown up, a bit early though. I'll double check, one moment.” The man paused and turned to a computer to his side, sifting through names, “Yes, he has shown up, I'll have him transported there immediately.”

“Thank you,” Tashid said, turning back to the doctor. “Well, it seems you won't have to wait long, he'll be here soon enough.”

“Good,” Dr. Vetzkey said, and turned back towards his lab, “Have him brought to me after he's been processed, please.”

“Of course.”


“Mr. Eripio?” a man said as he approached me. I turned and looked at him, nodding.

“Yes?”

“Please, come this way. You are being transferred from your original assignment to one needing your immediate presence. If you'll follow me.”

I eyed him oddly as he walked away, but decided that I had no choice in the matter. I was a part of the Corps and was theirs to do with what they would. My job did not matter as much as the fact that they gave me a future.

We ended up at a transport platform on which I was instructed to stand.

“You'll be transported to the Main Headquarters in Capitol City where you will finished being processed and given your new assignment.”

Before I could even nod the platform was activated and I was taken to the main HQ of the Corps. It was a rather extravagant building with lavish detail and fine things. And this was just the transport room. A man was standing before the platform. His appearance was unremarkable really, a bald head and deep set eyes that seemed to have witnessed too many things stared up at me.

“Good afternoon Mr. Eripio, I am Tashid, the recruiting manager for the Corps. If you'll please follow me we'll finish your processing and get you to your new assignment.”

I didn't really like what was going on, the assignment that I had been chosen for seemed well enough, and I was perfectly capable of doing it. So why were they assigning me somewhere else? I shrugged it off though, there was nothing I could do about it. So, I followed the man, apparently called Tashid, down the luxurious hallways deeper and deeper into the complex. We took a lift down quite a few floors and upon exiting I found this area of the Headquarters less appealing to the eye.

Stone walls and steel bars made up the architecture. It seemed that they were less worried about the appearance of the levels that the public would not see. I guess this was normal, but it did seem a bit deceptive to me.

Finally we came to what I believe to be our destination. It looked to be a lab of some sort. We had to go through a decontamination chamber before we were allowed to actually enter the lab. A man was inside, dress in a white lab coat and scouring over a computer hologram of what seemed to be a molecular structure of some sort.

“This is Dr. Vetzkey, Mr. Eripio. He will conduct the health screening to make sure you are physically... ready for your new assignment,” Tashid said with a  slight pause.

The man in the lab coat turned then and looked at me. Something in his eyes made me want to run away screaming and never come back. They felt like pure evil, and to have them boring into me like they did sent a shiver down my spine.

“Ah, so you're Maru Eripio. I have been awaiting your arrival very impatiently.”

And if he eyes weren't enough, his voice, like sweet poison, made me slightly pale. This was not a man I wanted to be around for much longer than was absolutely necessary.

“Please, if you will sit here,” he said motioning to a chair, somewhat like the chair of a dentist. After a moment of getting over my shock I slowly moved forward and sat down, still highly uncomfortable.

“I'm first going to take a blood sample and then some simple physical tests.” He said, pulling a syringe from a drawer and readying it. He tied off my arm and asked me a flex a few times to make my veins more apparent. Finally he found one and slowly inserted the needle, my blood pumping into the container.  

He pulled it away when it was full and set the vial aside, pulling his computer to him and instructing me to relax as a series of sensors passed over me, feeding information about my body to his computer. He seemed pleased with the results, because as each moment passed his smile, no smirk, grew wider and wider.

Finally the tests were finished and he set his computer aside with a few clicks. “Well, Maru, it seems that you will do well in this assignment, we just need to do the blood tests to be one hundred percent sure. Tashid here will escort you to a waiting room where you can wait. It may take a while, so feel free to take a nap or have some food brought to you while you wait.”

I nodded to him and got out of the chair, following Tashid out of the lab and down a few halls until finally reaching one with doors lining both sides. He opened one of them and ushered me inside. It felt sort of like a cell, with a cot in one corner, a small table in the center, and facilities in another corner.

“We will come and get you when the tests are complete. There is a com system there, feel free to request what ever you like while you wait.”

“Thank you,” I said, a bit bewildered and sat down as he shut the door. I swear I heard the soft click of hydraulic locks activating, but it could have been my imagination. I was still quite shaken up from my experience with the doctor. After a moment I heard whispers outside my door and got up, placing my ear to it.

“Yes Doctor, he's safely tucked away,” a voice said, possibly Tashid's.

“Good, the initial readings are very good. If his blood work checks out I think we will have a success here. Project X may finally be close to completion,” another voice replied, undoubtedly Dr. Vetzkey's.

“Good, and then we can finally start preparations for the Genesis Project. The High Master will be pleased.”

I leaned back and feel against my bed. Project X? The Genesis Project? What were they speaking of? And how did I have anything to with either of those things? I felt that I would not like the answer once I discovered it. And that if there was any way possible I should get out of here before I was given my new assignment.