"Those monsters outside... they were created by a Russian reproductive scientist due to a failed experiment. Back in 2032, eight years ago, he began a series of experiments. Initially, he tried implanting human embryos into female chimpanzees, but every attempt ended in miscarriage," Victor said as he stood up and shoveled more coal into the furnace.
"That guy ruined the entire world. What kind of scientist does that?" Ethan grumbled, turning to Victor, his frustration evident in his voice.
"Things took a darker turn in 2035," Victor continued, ignoring Ethan's outburst.
"This story sounds like a nightmare, but it's our reality now. After countless failures, the scientist changed his approach. He started recruiting human female volunteers. At first, these women knew they'd be carrying chimpanzee offspring, so they refused. But then, Caesar—the scientist—hid the truth. He began offering large sums of money to lure women in, implanting them with chimpanzee sperm. Ten months later, they gave birth to a new hybrid species. These creatures were born blind, but their hearing was incredibly acute. Within months, they grew to over four meters tall, with unmatched strength and agility."
Victor took out a cigarette from a pack and lit it, exhaling a ring of smoke that lingered in the air. This was his way of concealing the truth. He couldn't tell Ethan the real story about the clones; it would cause chaos. So, he stuck to Wilson's fabricated tale.
"But the most terrifying part wasn't just their size or strength. He found that these hybrid creatures were also highly aggressive and began to mutate. Fearing what they'd become, the scientists locked five of these mutated apes in a specially designed sealed lab to prevent the world from knowing about them."
"But how did they escape?" Ethan's face darkened.
"The scientists did everything they could. They locked them underground, chained them with enormous nanomaterial chains, and trapped them with infrared prisons. But on one stormy night, a lightning strike caused a blackout in New York. The lab's generator malfunctioned, and those creatures broke free, slaughtering everyone inside the lab. Then they stormed into the city, wreaking havoc on the world," Victor explained, his voice grim.
"Was there no one to stop them?" Ethan asked, a note of despair creeping into his voice.
"We couldn't defeat them. Their mutations happened so fast, and our weapons were useless against them," Victor replied, shaking his head.
Hearing all this left Ethan with a heavy heart. Here he was, in a place where he had to deal with pregnancies and bullying. It was time to think of another way out.
"Ethan, you need to adjust to this place quickly," Victor said in a warning tone.
"Remember, the top dog here is Wilson—the guy you met today. He holds absolute authority. He has two lieutenants. One is Sherry, a sharp and capable woman. The other is Butter; he oversees your work. Don't cross him, got it?"
Back in the upper levels, Ethan returned to his workstation, reflecting on Victor's words. The lab was a pristine, sterile room filled with rows of workbenches. Each one had a microscope and a series of petri dishes. The dishes were labeled with codes, but no names. Ethan's job was to add nutrient solutions to the dishes, ensuring that the microorganisms inside could survive. He had no idea what these microorganisms were. Omega Fortress had never explained it to him. As he carefully poured the solution, he couldn't help but wonder, "What are these microbes, anyway?"
"Ethan, get out here!" Butter's gruff voice interrupted his thoughts. The man looked intimidating with his graying silver hair, thick mustache, and bulging eyes—he probably had a thyroid condition. His uniform clung tightly to his bulky frame, and he wore a gun on one side of his waist and a baton on the other. He exuded an air of authority and menace.
"Sir, you called me?" Ethan asked hesitantly, his heart racing.
"Yes, you tried to escape, didn't you? Starting today, you're on ventilation duct cleaning duty. Every day, after finishing your work. One week. Got it?"
"What? Oh... okay," Ethan muttered. One glance at Butter's furious face made him comply without protest. Survival was more important right now.
"And next time you screw up, I don't care—I'll toss you into the furnace myself," Butter growled, jabbing a finger in Ethan's face as a final warning.
Lunchtime rolled around, and Ethan found himself in the central cafeteria, hungrily devouring his meal. His stomach had been growling all morning. As he enjoyed his tomato soup, he failed to notice that the three pregnant men from earlier were still around, looking for their next target. Since Arya had protected Ethan earlier, they hadn't dared to mess with him. But now they had set their sights on another man at the table in front of Ethan—a scrawny, weak-looking guy who seemed harmless enough.
The leader of the bullies, George, poured his leftover bowl of bones into the man's tomato soup, while others cheered and some even banged on tables in support.
Ethan was disgusted. These guys seemed to assert their dominance in Omega Fortress through bullying. And it wasn't just the three of them. Others joined in too, as if it were an unwritten rule here: bully or be bullied.
The scrawny man kept his head down, enduring the humiliation. Ethan couldn't stand it anymore. He stood up, grabbed the bone-filled soup bowl, and dumped it over George's head.
"You nasty piece of work, I've had enough of you! What kind of dog are you, raised with no manners?" Ethan's outburst stunned everyone. George was furious, wiping the bones off his head. His once-styled hair was now drenched in tomato soup, making him look utterly ridiculous.
"Boys, get him!" George shouted, and the three of them chased after Ethan. They grabbed nearby chairs and utensils, hurling them at him.
Ethan dodged the flying cutlery, slipping under a table. But one of George's cronies saw him and called out, "Boss, over here! He's under here!"
George yanked Ethan out from under the table, lifting him off the ground. With one powerful punch, Ethan's eye was bruised, turning into a panda-like black eye.
"Enough!" A voice suddenly rang out from across the cafeteria. It was William, a man who had been quietly eating his meal. He set down his fork and dabbed at his mouth with a napkin.
"And who the hell are you to tell me to stop?" George sneered, showing no sign of letting up. But William made a small gesture, and his group of followers quickly surrounded George and his cronies.
Some punched, some kicked, and others even used bowls to hit them. Within moments, George and his gang were beaten black and blue, fleeing for their lives. Thanks to William, Ethan only suffered minor injuries. These scuffles were common in Omega Fortress. In the beginning, someone might intervene, but eventually, everyone just turned a blind eye, even the leaders.
"Thanks for helping me out. What's your name? I'll repay you someday," Ethan said, rubbing his bruised eye.
"Name's William. And you?" William asked, sipping his coffee, his pinky finger slightly raised as he held the cup handle.
"I'm Ethan. Ethan Black," Ethan replied, getting ready to leave.
"Wait a minute. I saved you, and you're not even going to stay for a drink?" William's voice was gentle, but his eyes held a strange intensity.
What's going on? Ethan wondered. As he pondered William's offer, the scrawny man Ethan had stood up for passed by, returning his tray. He whispered just loud enough for Ethan to hear.
"He's gay…"