Three hundred sets of eyes are looking at me as I drone on about the benefits of modern scientific advancements. A look of wonder in their eyes as they hear the things that are possible and the limitless potential we have yet to discover. With five minutes left until the end of class, I decide to wake these naive adults to reality.
"We live in a world where a single person can cause the end of the world with the push of a button. A president launching nuclear weapons, a mad scientist with clumsy hands, or a negligent supervisor controlling unstable materials. Imagine a hadron collider malfunctioning or nuclear plant meltdowns worldwide. What if Earth became Chernobyl? What if it became your average zombie movie?" I look around the room at the students in my lecture hall. They are listening intently, curious to the purpose of my words.
"In the right hands, science can be a blessing. In the wrong or ignorant hands, it is a disaster! Our university labs handle dangerous materials daily. One wrong move means losing your eyes or starting a severe fire. Mixing the wrong chemicals can create a deadly gas if you aren't careful. There are many things in science that are unpredictable. Innocents suffer when we make mistakes, consequences can be global in worst case scenarios. You are future researchers, it is your responsibility to do everything to avoid causing disaster."
The bell rings and all the students start making their way to their next classes. I walk down the hall on my way to my office. The halls are filled with students and teachers, all making their way to different destinations. The noise is easy to tune out as I pick up the pace.
As soon as I get to my office I lock the door and lean back in my corner chair. An old book sits on the side table with pages earmarked from repeated readings. Beside it is a new novel that I got as a gift.
Queen of the Apocalypse
My best friend happens to be a high school English teacher with a fascination for dystopian fantasies. Occasionally she'll buy me a steamy book that aligns with her obsession under the pretext that I need to live vicariously through the novels main female lead.
This latest is a strong female lead in a zombie outbreak who meets some hunky male leads who all desperately want her attention. Honestly, the plot is ridiculous. Just reading the back cover makes me roll my eyes, but since Leena sent it to me I will get hell if I don't finish.She's like that. Despite her questionable taste in books, Leena is one to say you can't judge a book by its cover. So, reluctantly I open it up and begin to read.
A couple hours later a knock comes to my door. As I look at the time, I see it's in the middle of my office hours. With a sigh, I unlock the door and let the student in as I place the novel to the side.
It's a tall young man with black hair. He's one I vaguely recognize from one of the many university sports teams, basketball if I had to guess. I sit down in my chair and motion for him to take a seat as well.
"What can I do for you? Questions about this weeks lab? Or reviewing the midterm?" The reasons for an office visit are numerous, but it is unusual for me to get any visitors. His calloused hand rubs the back of his neck.
"Well Prof. Hunt, I was actually curious about what you said at the end of class. All my other teachers talk about those disasters you mentioned as one offs or an unrepeatable tragedy. But, you... you don't." Looking into his emerald green eyes, I see a mix of curiosity filled with slight lust which confuses me.
"Most scientists don't want to admit that their discoveries are dangerous."
I pick up the book I was reading and behin to use it as an example.
"This is a novel a friend of mine recommended. It's fiction and full if ridiculous interpersonal relationships, but the setting is prevalent to this discussion. A zombie apocalypse. It's a common movie trope, virus outbreak caused by a single irresponsible scientist or corporation. A serum that starts as a cure causing irreversable damage to the human genome creating monsters that never die. If it's not accidental, maybe it's bio-terrorism gone wrong. A foreign nation looking to destroy their biggest competitor only to unleash something they themselves cannot control. Experiments that mutate and evolve beyond our expectation."
His eyes are locked on me, intensely listening to my every word.
"The world is full of unknown things and life adapts causing unknown chain reactions. Even without human influence there is a chance, no matter how miniscule, that the Earth will be struck by a meteor or a series of severe volcanic eruptions cause a global ice age. Life is fragile and resilient at the same time. If a tragedy occurs, some will survive. It is inevitable. But make no mistake, humans will likely cause our own extinction."
I see him process what I'm saying. The gears in his head turning. There is a quiet thank you before he gets up and leaves in silence. Once he is gone, I pack up and go home for the weekend.
I wake up on Sunday, ready for my outing with Leena. She planned an extra special surprise and refused to tell me where we are going. The city is bustling as we make our way downtown. I start to guess our destination just to pass time. When we arrived, it was beyond what I imagined.
In true Leena fashion, she booked us an escape room. Not just any escape room either. The most difficult one called 'Mad Scientist Nirvana'.
It's unbeaten and known to demoralize enthusiasts, but that didn't deter Leena. The staff lead us to the room and lock the door behind us.
There are cloning vats, computers, and sequencing equipment scattered around the room. Vials filled with mysterious liquids half spilt on the disheveled work benches. A laptop in the centre of the room is on and a video is queued up, so I press play.
"Doctor Franz, it's recording." A timid voice is in the background and on the screen is a clean shaven man in his mid-thirties. His lab coat has his name and field of study, genetics. The room is the same one we are in.
"Thank you. Today is Day 1 of my new experiment. There are countless flaws in our DNA, and a small adjustment can give us something new. Like super strength or eternal youth. I have been developing a serum to universally enhance the human race. To evolve us. One formula for countless possibilities. We start with monkeys, the clones aren't quite ready yet. They still need to grow."
A cage is wheeled in and there are three small monkeys inside. Off screen, the assistant hands Dr.Franz a case with three syringes. Those syringes are filled with an odd pink liquid. One by one the test subjects get the serum. The image on the screen goes black for a second before it reappears.
The doctor hasn't shaven in days and dark circles are under his eyes.
"Day 10. The serum had some unexpected effects on the primate subjects. Though results were initially as expected, the serum eventually caused rapid deterioration of living cells. Subjects passed after three days only to become, for lack of a better word, undead. The subjects become extremely aggressive and can infect through bites or scratches. I've already lost my assistant to the first roud of test monkeys. I must fix this."
After another skip and the doctor is clearly severely deprived as well as malnourished. His cheeks are shallow, his hir is covefing his eyes, and the once form fitting lab coat looks like a tent on his thin frame. In front of him is a small blue orb that seemed to shimmer with electricity.
"It's been months and I couldn't fix anything. The subjects are too difficult to kill. My knowledge is not enough. I played God when I shouldn't. I couldn't bring myself to kill my assistant after he turned so I put his corpse in a cryogenic chamber. My body will be going in one too. This microchip is the last thing I can leave behind. It will be hidden for a worthy successor and will give you the strength to survive my mistake. The key is in your genes."
The video stops and the computer shuts off automatically.
The cryogenic chambers are in the corner and I can feel the chill coming off of them. This is really realistic. Even the video quality from the recording was what you would expect in this high tech lab. I look at Leena for any more explanation, but she shrugs.
"They said the video explained the goal. This is why it's unbeatable. We have four hours Nettie. You're the scientist, find the science hints!" She lightly shoves my shoulder and I roll my eyes. I have to admit, this is a cool setting.
"Okay, the last sentence definitely sticks out. 'The key is in your genes'. The man was a geneticist so his research was all about DNA and enhancing humans to their limit."
Looking around the room, a couple things stick out. Damaged double helix sculptures and papers with genetic sequencing from different species. The most interesting thing is a bio-metric scanner that looks like it doesn't attach to anything.
I point it out to Leena and she tries to place her hand on it only to get a red light. An automated message plays.
"Unauthorized User"
Leena turns to me and motions that it's my turn, so I comply. Though we both expect the same reaction, instead it turns green. The automated voice comes once again as a hidden panel in the wall opens.
"Qualified Successor Found"
Inside the wall are the doctor's personal journals. It takes time to read through them and the videos become more disturbing. I look at Leena with a concerned feeling in my gut.
"Leena, this research is really detailed. This whole room doesn't feel like an escape room, it feels like an abandoned lab." My friend rolls her eyes before I see the gears turning in her head.
"You figured it out, didn't you? I see it in your face! You know how to win and get us out of here! We'll be legendary. Just hurry and get the key. There are thirty minutes left." Though the feeling in my gut doesn't go away, i decide to finish what I started.
I make my way over to the middle cryogenic chember and input a special code. As soon as I'm finished, a small compartment clicks open and reveals a small velvet box. Like one that would contain an engagement ring. I pick up the box and underneath is the exit key. Leena is beside me, urging me to open the box. Slowly, I do.
Inside is the microchip from the video. The blue tint still coming off the marble shaped object.
"Keep it as a souvenir. You deserve it Nettie. We wouldn't have won if not for you."
I take her advice, closing the box and slipping it into my back pocket.
The door gets unlocked and we exit to a stunned staff. After a couple selfies and and an official 'Winner' picture on the wall, we head out and begin making our way to the karaoke bar. With drinks in hand, we sing for hours and attract an audience. I excuse myself and make my way back home while leaving Leena to entertain our fans.
In my apartment, I take the box out from my back pocket and place the mysterious orb in my palm. It is small and looks like something out of a science fiction movie. As I am enraptured by the movement inside, it begins to heat up and melt into my skin.
The pain feels like my hand is being torn apart. The feeling immediately sobers me up and I feel hazy from the agony. Despite using all my effort, I can't stay conscious.
My alarm wakes me up the next morning and I am still in last nights clothes. My head rings from a hangover and my left hand still has lingering pains. Looking down, there is no sign that anything happened other than the pain in my hand. I get ready and walk to work, all in a daze. I barely even remember my first lecture. By the time I am in my office there is a ding in my ear that snaps me back into awareness.
[System Fully Fused]
[Welcome Successor. I am RINA, your personal enhancement AI.]
[Rogue experiments have escaped a government research facility. The zombie apocalyse is imminent. You have access to gene enhancements and other system features that require DNA crystals. These crystals can be obtained through killing zombies and completing enhancement missions. Dispose of all failed experiments and take back the world after the destruction.]
[Good Luck, Successor]
A status opens up as soon as the voice finishes talking.
Amanet Hunt: Level 1 (0/100 EXP)
HP: 100/100
Stamina: 100/100
Strength: 5
Agility: 5
Physique: 5
Intelligence: 5
Abilities: None
My brain is racing with all the information coming into my head. I don't entirely believe it but RINA's voice still lingers in my head. All I can do is put this to the back of my mind and hope I'm going crazy or that this AI in my brain is wrong.
I exit my office only to hear cars colliding on the streets. As I run out of the building, I realize that what I heard is all too real.
Hundreds of corpses are attacking people and causing mass chaos. Blood is covering the pavement and severed limbs are scattered around.
Some zombies notice my presence and dash towards me. I'm frozen in place, not from fear but from shock. The system starts ringing in my head, telling me danger is approaching, but my body won't move. The creature is getting too close for comfort when a pair of hands shakes me to consciousness.
"Prof, snap out of it! We need to go!"
They grab my hand and pull me along as I take a second to recognize who is in front of me. The tall, muscular figure with black hair from Friday's office hours. He doesn't stop when we get inside the building and continues to make his way to the sports supplies closets. I can't help but wonder why he is dragging me that way.
"Thank you for saving me, but you can let go of my hand. You are my student, it is inappropriate. Plus, I don't even know your name."
He looks back giving me a cocky smile and when he speaks, there is sarcasm laced in his words.
"Damn Prof, that hurts. I know you have a lot of students but I thought I was memorable." I roll my eyes and try to pull back my hand, but he squeezes tighter. "No need to be shy, Teach. I won't bite unless you want me to. Xander Writt, varsity athlete and a big fan of yours."
"You know my research?" That statement earns a laugh as he pulls me into the archery room and shuts the door.
"Your research has nothing to do with it. You really have no idea how popular you are among students, do you?"
His face is only inches from mine as he leans against the door, trapping me in between them.
"Half the men in your class only take it to look at and listen to you. You make a boring subject interesting and you look sexy when you talk passionately. Even the other day, I came all the way to your office with a bullshit question just to get some time alone."
I place my hands on his chest and try to push him back, but he doesn't budge.
"Xander, back off while I'm still being your sweet teacher. I don't like being aggressive with students, but you're crossing a boundary." His cocky smirk shows itself again as he raises his arms in defeat.
"Feisty, that's hot Prof."
"Stop calling me Prof. It sounds sexual coming from you. My name is Amanet, if you must use my name." His rough hand brushes against my arm.
"Amanet..... gorgeous." He leans in and feel his warm breath as he whispers in my ear. "Ama...."
Xander's voice is dripping with lust as he teases me and he slowly backs away.