Chapter 17: Wilhelm Corporation (1)
In an underground secret facility located somewhere in Central US, there was a group of scientists still working on researching the monster apocalypse brought upon to the world.
"Here, have some coffee professor." A young man in a white lab coat handed a coffee to another man who was wearing an identical lab coat. He was sitting in front of a computer monitor, focused on his work. "It has been a rough day, and we are still far from the answers that we are searching for."
"I know." The man took off his eyeglasses and pinched his temples. He had a very tired face. "It has been eight years since the incident happened, and we still could not find any means to fix the mistake that we did."
"I am sorry professor Howard." The young man looked at the professor with pity. "I only heard of what happened eight years ago. That was before I joined the company."
"You are lucky Vince, to have not seen that incident." Howard sighed. "I was still a young scientist back then, eager to find answers to questions that are hard to answer. We thought we have found the answer to the essence of life itself, a power that can end all illnesses and stop famines and hunger. We thought that the power we sought for will give humanity a better life and transform our world for the better. But what had happened was the opposite." His face contorted with guilt.
"We are doing our best now sir." Vince replied. "I am sure we could find others that can bond with Genome-666 to a hundred precent rate. We can reclaim this world if we work hard."
"Thanks. I appreciate your words." Howard smiled faintly.
The big monitor on the other side of the room had the map of the world being showed. There were blinking dots with different colors.
*BEEP BEEP BEEP*
A beeping sound was heard after their conversation. Then a red dot appeared out of nowhere in a part of the map of the United States. Vince was curious and came closer to the monitor. He clicked the keyboard and the world map zoomed in the North American continent.
"Umm sir, I think you should see this." Vince called.
"Hmm, what is it?" Howard put on his eyeglasses again and pushed his chair towards where the big monitor was.
"Here sir." Vince said. "This just appeared all of a sudden." He pointed to the red dot.
"Hmm, that's strange." Howard said.
Howard started typing on the monitor and another screen appeared.
"Do we have some GE-S in that area?" Howard asked.
In the monitor there was a header where it is shown that GE-S is short for Genetically Enhanced Soldier. The results for Howard's search are shown as zero.
"I believe we have no GE-S there sir." Vince replied with a confused look.
"That location, I think I know of it." Howard then typed on the monitor once more. The name of the hospital appeared. "Like I thought." He put his fingers on his chin deep in thought.
"What is it sir?" Vince asked.
"This place was a hospital under the Wilhelm Corporation before the apocalypse started. It had been also a discreet research facility that was used to experiment on the first batches of GE-S." Howard replied.
"Oh…" Vince replied. "Then that was before I entered the company. That is why I do not know of it. But what happened to that facility sir?"
"It was overrun by monsters during the war. It was abandoned abruptly because of that." Howard said. "I know because I was there when it happened. I was assigned to that facility before. But to have a red dot over there…?" He was deep in thought.
"Does that mean there is a GE-S test subject that survived for that long?" Vince asked. "What does red means sir? I have since orange, green, yellow colors for GE-S but I have never seen red before."
"As you know, the colors symbolized the percentage of the bond of a GE-S to Genome-666. The more the color is going to red means the higher the percentage." Howard replied. "That red light… might possibly be our new hope, Vince." A happy smile brightened his gloomy face.
"You mean that we might have a super GE-S sir?" Vince's voice was also bright. "If that is true, then this can be a breakthrough in our research!"
"Yes, you are correct." Howard replied. "Call HQ at once and tell them of this development. This can be our hope to fight back and reclaim our world."
"Yes sir, right away." Vince rushed to where a satellite phone was and started to call.
Howard who had a gloomy face at first now had a bright face. It was something he had been hoping for since the monster apocalypse ruined the whole world.
**
A day or two have passed by since the emergence of the red dot in the monitor. Howard was busy rummaging on old files that luckily made out when they abandoned the research facility.
"There were so many patients that were used for research." Howard said. "I tried narrowing it down with the ones that had a high chance of success rate."
"How were you able to get test subjects sir?" Vince asked. "As of now, we have many volunteer for a chance of having their family in a safe place far from the daemons. But back then I am sure that is not the case."
"You are correct." Howard sighed while reading the documents from file after file. "It was an inhumane thing to force someone, and I tried battling out with the director. He wanted fresh and healthy subjects but at first, I was against it because the bond with Genome-666 had a low success rate. Some of higher ups sided with me and we were able to come into a decision to use patients that have their life hanging by a thread."
"You mean those that are dying sir?" Vince asked.
"Yes." Howard replied. "We have many out our list such as cancer patients in their fourth stage, heart attack patients, patients who had accidents and are in a comatose that have low chances of surviving. That is why the research facility had a front of a hospital."
"Then how were the first research subjects?" Vince asked.
"The first stages were a failure. We were not able to bond Genome-666 to human genes. But as the research went on, and with the use of the blood we got from the monsters we gathered, we are able to have until fifty percent success rate." Howard replied.
"Well, that is pretty high knowing that the research was still in its early stages." Vince replied. "Now we have at least seventy five percent succession bond."
"But that rate is still pretty low. To reclaim our world, we must have at least ninety five percent GE-S, and an army of them. Maybe this red dot can help us achieve that goal." Howard said.
*KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK*
"Come in." Howard replied.
The door opened and someone in an officer uniform came in.
"Sir, the director had just arrived." The officer informed.
"I see. Thank you." Howard replied. "Please lead the director to the receiving area. Tell them I will be there shortly."
"Yes sir." The officer bowed and left.
"You and the director don't vibe together, huh?" Vince asked.
"We really do not see eye to eye." Howard said and stood up from his seat. "But he is a good scientist and was once my mentor. I have learned many things from him, and I respect him for his knowledge and wisdom."
"Well, he really is something to climb up the ladder of the company and became the director of the North American branch." Vince said.
"He is an ambitious man." Howard said. "Well, let us go. We can't let the director waiting."
"Right…" Vince said and followed Howard out of the room.
Both of them walked in the hallways and stopped by a door were there are uniformed officers standing guard. Howard showed them his ID and Vince as well. The officers let them enter the room. Inside, there was man wearing black suite looking at a monitor as big as a window that shows a beautiful scenery of a lake and the trees that surrounds it.
"Such a shame that we can only see this beautiful scenery in a monitor. Knowing that we are now living like moles, deep underground where it is safe from those daemons." The man said. "I hope that your research can have a groundbreaking change." The man turned to face Howard and Vince.
The man was middle aged and had some gray hair streaks on his black hair. He had a calm expression and a vibe of supremacy.
"It is good to see you again Director Thompson." Howard greeted and Vince followed.
"Now tell me Howard, about that red dot you found." Director Thompson had a chilling smile on his face.
Edited by: nalyn
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺