Sometime in the distant past
I was studying my plants when she walked in. Always Terra, interrupting my work to bring tales about the surface. Always mentioning the good, and refraining from acknowledging the bad. An intergalactic war is encroaching, but little Jack is learning how to sing!
I smiled at the optimism, wishing I could share it.
"Look! The professor can smile!" Terra had her patented smile as she walked in, wearing her regular outfit. A blue t-shirt and short white shorts. A golden bracelet bright enough to light any room. Dazzling earrings, and even more dazzling eyes.
Combine that with the generational wealth of her family, and it was no wonder every scientist and his experiments were infatuated with her. Too bad for them, she was taken.
Smiling at my plants she asked, "How's the research going?"
I picked up one of the plants, the Falsa Mors, and set it carefully into its container. "Eh, it's going. I can't seem to find out this little bug in the system. The plants take away emotions but they take too many. Our few subjects have become a husk of their former selves, instead of the peaceful humans we were expecting. Maybe I can't override a human's nature to be violent."
Listening attentively, she gazed at the plants. She didn't really understand this science stuff but still involved herself in it out of support. I don't know why, I couldn't imagine going underground without such a passionate reason as curing humanity.
Every now and then I think about leaving this behind and going back to the surface. Freeing my subordinates as well. Leave the whole Necropic thing behind. But then I think of little Jack, of Terra. Of Farvie.
The universe needed me here.
Returning a question I asked, "How's the book coming along."
At first, she gave an embarrassed laugh, pinching her thigh like she always does when nervous. I don't know why, I thought it was amazing. Maybe a bit too self-serving, what with her child in the title, but the story obviously doubled as a personal retelling, so I wouldn't give it too much mind. Not her though, she stresses over every detail. Though I guess I do the same with my plants.
After pinching her leg again and letting out another embarrassed laugh she said "Ohhh, it's fine. I think I wrote down a few good words." I couldn't help but laugh at that. A few words?
"Give yourself more credit, I think the book's fantastic."
Playfully tapping my shoulder she said in a teasing tone "Yeah, I know. A book called 'Little Jack's Journey Through the Cosmos' is gonna win all the awards."
Shrugging I replied, "Maybe not award-winning, but I think it will be well received at least!"
Playfully shoving my shoulder she claimed I "was just being nice."
We both laughed for a bit before I started looking back at my plants. I need to find the cure. War is looming over the horizon... threatening Terra, Jack. Farvie.
Noting my now more serious expression, Terra asked, "Is my Farvie skipping work again? I'll have to go beat him up huh."
Allowing a slight chuckle I said, "No, he's doing fine. He's a great help actually."
Crossing her arms, doing her best to look cross, she huffed, "Good."
A few months later
I brought Farvie in with a great smile on my face. Although he didn't need encouragement (he was almost as excited as me) I still pushed him along. I finally found it, the great breakthrough!
A few weeks ago I began to realize that a certain kind of energy really resonated with the plants. As the energy hit the plant, it released the exact pathogen that I hypothesized would trigger Necropis. To test my theory, I tested this pathogen on 5 different serial killers.
Today, I was showing Farvie 5 different, completely docile human beings. And they still had all their previous motor functions!
"It's truly a marvelous success, isn't it Farvie? I mean, this changes everything." I spoke with a wonder that I could tell was shared by Farvie.
It was a shame that Terra wouldn't be here, but she was off talking to crowds about her book. I smiled, realizing how amazing everything was going to become. It was as if some great light shown upon us, bestowing life's truest gifts.
Farvie excitedly pulled a book out of his pouch, a limited copy of Terra's story. He exclaimed "Maybe this is not the exact kind of gift she'd want, but I... I think it's time to get engaged now! I'm sorry Professor, but I think I need to be a family man after all of this."
Smiling, I put my hand on his shoulder. "That's perfectly fine, Farvie. And don't think that's a bad gift, I think it's extremely thoughtful if it counts for anything."
Putting the book back into his pouch, Farvie waved at one of the serial killer-turned-peacemakers, who promptly waved back with a warm smile of his own. Farvie laughed, playfully shoving me. "We did it! We gotta get this to the federation, Mark! We... we could really end the war!"
Yes... if only I had found this sooner. In the last few months, the war had seen a sudden uptick, to the point it seemed as if every day a planet was destroyed. They were waiting for a gift I took far too long to deliver. The truth I couldn't escape from is that I killed trillions.
A week later
I led Farvie and Terra through the bunker with the speed only I, someone who spent their life inside it, could do. Past thousands of bustling, scared civilians, we continued running. I had reserved the incubation machines just for these 2, but you know how scared people get.
If it wasn't for my grave task, I would've crumbled under the weight of Terra's screams. Of agony, of grief. The screams of a mother who lost her young.
Farvie consoled her, the same way he did after he bashed in the head...
It's all my fault. A human overstepping his boundaries. It's no wonder nature stepped in to set the course properly.
Just a day after my "magnificent" discovery, reports came in by droves of millions. Planet after planet after planet fell to some unknown virus. Unknown to the public, anyway. As I burned the 5 monsters, I knew the truth. The Necropic Virus... that I had heralded as humanity's great step, that I promptly shared with the universe, was nothing more than the greatest weapon of mass extinction ever created.
And it was quick to strike at those I love.
Jack...
I continued to push his parents through the crowd, not caring if I stomped a civilian underneath our fleeting feet. With how many people I already killed, what does it matter if a few more die, if it means that Farvie and Terra would be safe? It doesn't.
Ignoring the gunfire raging on the surface, so loudly that we could hear it almost 2 miles below the surface, I continued pushing them forward. Terra screamed, and Farvie consoled. My job was to push.
I managed to get them containers in District F, which hypothetically would be the most secure. If any part of the universe would be safe from the virus, that would be it. Guarded with multiple auto-lock doors, it should be impossible for any of those beasts to get in. The second the system catches a whiff of the Necropic Virus, all of the doors would come crashing down, completely impenetrable.
This small bit of comfort allowed me a brief smile, as a bullet passed through my brain.
Farvakhin
What was that! A... gun?! Down here?!!
What happened to... oh. Forcing Terra down, I looked out amongst the scrambling civilians, scanning for the shooter. They weren't hard to find, as they were mowing down civilians left and right, making a beeline straight for District F.
If I tried to force us there, one of us would get shot.
Grabbing my wife's shaking face, I forced her to look at me.
I instantly had to remind myself to remain cold, otherwise the look of pure loss would have destroyed me. Though her eyes and cheeks shone due to the river of tears falling down her face, there was no emotion in her eyes. It was as if they died with our son.
J-man...
Not even the threat of becoming one of those monsters could force me to look at my blood-stained arm.
I deserved this punishment. I deserved all of this and more. But they don't. They didn't. Jack was an innocent little boy, dammit! His biggest crime was being born with a disease that prevented him from traveling the cosmos. And his saint of a mother... did her absolute best to alleviate that pain. She was constantly writing stories that she could share with him during bedtime, taking him on adventures everywhere. Distant, exotic planets, local moons, asteroid belts, anywhere that piqued his interest he could go as long as he had his mother's imagination.
Neither of them deserved this fate...
Looking into her eyes, I tried to shake her back into reality. Unsure if that worked, I spoke, hoping my words didn't fall on deaf ears. "Look, baby... I'm sorry. I- I tried to better the world and it... look. We need to find a way to District F. That's the safest place for you."
I jumped in surprise as she jabbed my rib with her index. The spot that only she knew would get an instant reaction out of me. Crying, she whimpered, "What about you?"
Smiling, I said, "I'll be right behind you, promise."
I looked up to see the terrorists had left, hopefully already getting what they wanted. The best chance at survival. Guiding my wife amongst the corpses, I kept a keen eye for their return. It was only 6 of them, so I hoped they realized there was more than enough space for them.
Thankfully, that hope was rewarded. Our path to salvation was nearing completion.
Hers.
There was only one machine left.
I grabbed both of my wife's wrists and guided her forward. I cried, both at the situation and the fact I knew I had to get physical. The only situation I ever would in my entire life. But if I was gentle right now, she wouldn't listen.
"Baby, there's... there's only 1 left! We- we can't both fit!"
Keep your head down. Don't look at her, don't pay any attention to her emotions.
"Baby, you're hurting me!"
Pay no mind to the squirming. She'll be still, safe, before too long. Keep going.
"Baby, STOP!!! Please!"
I felt someone help me take her to the machine. It won't be long now.
"Why are you doing this to me! I- I forgive you! I love you! STOP!!! Please..."
Hearing the straps lock her in place, I finally raised my eyes. We were both crying our souls out. Reaching into my pouch, I pulled out the book I had meant to give as an engagement gift.
Sliding it into her pouch, I tapped her heart 3 times. "I love you too."
"What... baby no... stop... THIS ISN'T FAIR!!! DON'T LEAVE ME!!!"
Even though I was relieved, ecstatic, that she would survive, I couldn't smile. Our last moments in this life would be spent crying at the sight of each other.
"I love you."