Evan Mercer sat in his dimly lit office at Mercer Biotech, the glow from multiple computer screens casting sharp shadows across his face. His mind raced, processing the culmination of weeks of research and planning. He had finally found the key to his next stage of evolution, and it all came down to one name: Armando Muñoz, also known as Darwin.
Darwin's mutation had always fascinated Evan. Reactive Evolution—the ability to instantly adapt to any threat or environment—was, on paper, one of the most powerful abilities in existence. A perfect form of survival. But Evan knew better. Darwin had died because his power wasn't truly perfect. He could only adapt to one danger at a time. If he was evolving to survive one thing, it left him vulnerable to another.
That limitation was why he failed.
Evan would not fail.
He had no intention of telling anyone how he would integrate Darwin's mutation or why it would work for him and not others. He simply needed to obtain the genetic material and move forward.
As he pondered his next move, the door to his office creaked open, and Amelia Voght stepped inside.
"You're burning the midnight oil again," she remarked, folding her arms. "What's got you so engrossed?"
Evan leaned back, his fingers steepled. "I've been delving into the fate of a particular mutant—Armando Muñoz, also known as Darwin."
Amelia frowned. "Darwin? The guy who could adapt to anything? I thought he died years ago."
"He did," Evan replied. "But his mutation makes his genetic material invaluable. If I can locate his remains, I might be able to extract his DNA and unlock the secrets of his evolution."
Her skepticism was evident. "Even if you find his body, what makes you think you can use it?"
Evan gave a small, unreadable smile. "That's for me to worry about."
She studied him for a moment. "You always have a plan, don't you?"
"Always," he said simply.
She sighed, shaking her head. "And how do you plan to find a body that's been missing for decades?"
"I've been analyzing historical records, eyewitness accounts, and classified documents. There's a pattern—a trail that leads to a remote location in upstate New York. I believe that's where he was buried."
"And I suppose you want me to come with you?"
Evan's expression didn't change. "It would be more efficient."
She hesitated, then exhaled. "Alright. Let's find your mutant."
The following evening, under the cover of darkness, Evan and Amelia set out for upstate New York. The journey was silent, each lost in thought. Evan's mind raced with the possibilities that Darwin's DNA could offer, while Amelia seemed more focused on why he wanted it.
After hours of driving through winding forest roads, they arrived at an unmarked, overgrown path. Evan consulted his notes, confirming they were in the right place.
"This is it," he said, stepping out of the vehicle.
Amelia followed, scanning the dense foliage. "Doesn't look like much."
"That's the point," Evan replied. "They wanted to keep it hidden."
They trekked through the woods, guided by Evan's meticulous research. Eventually, they reached a small clearing where an unassuming stone marker lay half-buried under moss and leaves. Evan knelt beside it, brushing away the debris to reveal an inscription: "Armando Muñoz – A Friend and Hero."
"This is it," he murmured.
Amelia glanced around nervously. "We should be quick. I don't like being out here exposed."
Evan nodded, producing a set of tools from his bag. With precision and care, he began to exhume the grave. After some time, they uncovered a simple wooden coffin, weathered by decades. Opening it, they found Darwin's remains, remarkably well-preserved due to the unique properties of his mutation. Evan carefully collected tissue samples, placing them into sterile containers.
As he worked, Amelia kept watch, her senses alert. "Do you really think this will work?" she asked quietly.
Evan paused, looking up at her. "If we can decode his genetic structure, we could revolutionize our understanding of adaptation. Imagine the possibilities."
She nodded slowly. "Just… be careful. Power like that can be dangerous."
Evan gave her a neutral look. "That depends on who wields it."
With the samples secured, they carefully reburied the coffin and made their way back to the vehicle. The drive back to Mercer Biotech was filled with a sense of accomplishment and anticipation.
Once they arrived at the facility, Evan wasted no time. He stored the samples in a controlled preservation unit and then sat at his desk, staring at the computer screen. His fingers hovered over the keyboard.
He had the genetic material.
Now, he had to learn how to use it.
Evan had never formally studied biology or genetics. His knowledge of mutations came from scientific reports, research papers, and stolen documents from various underground sources. But understanding theory was one thing. Applying it was another.
If he was going to unlock the secrets of Darwin's DNA, he had to educate himself.
Over the next week, Evan did nothing but study.
Every waking moment was spent absorbing knowledge. Genetic coding, cellular regeneration, DNA manipulation, CRISPR technology, the intricacies of gene splicing. He devoured books, academic journals, and classified files with the kind of obsession that would have broken a lesser mind.
Amelia watched in silence. She had seen him focused before, but this? This was something else entirely.
One night, she walked into the lab and found him at his desk, surrounded by stacks of notes and calculations scrawled across multiple whiteboards. His eyes were sharp, his mind working faster than she had ever seen.
"You've barely slept," she noted.
Evan didn't look up. "Sleep is irrelevant."
She crossed her arms. "You're learning at a rate that shouldn't even be possible. This much information in one week? It takes people years to understand half of what you're reading."
He finally looked at her, and for the first time, there was a glint of something deeper in his expression.
"Evolution," he said simply.
She exhaled, shaking her head. "You're not normal, Mercer."
"I never claimed to be."
He turned back to his work, fingers typing rapidly as he processed new information at an inhuman pace.
It wasn't just that he was learning.
He was adapting.
And he wasn't doing this alone.
Evan knew that, despite his intelligence, true innovation required a team. Over the next few days, he began recruiting scientists—not the kind who worked for recognition or prestige, but those who wanted results.
Disgraced geneticists. Rogue bioengineers. Researchers who had been shunned by mainstream academia for their radical ideas. People who didn't care about ethics—only progress.
One by one, they arrived at Mercer Biotech, intrigued by Evan's vision. Some had questions. Others simply saw an opportunity.
A man named Dr. Elias Ward, a former lead researcher at a now-defunct genetic laboratory, was the first to sign on. "You want to push human evolution forward? You'll need someone who understands how to break the limits of biology."
A woman named Dr. Selene Carter, an expert in regenerative genetics, was next. "Whatever you're working on, I want in. But I don't work for free."
Evan smirked. "Money won't be an issue."
Piece by piece, the foundation was being built.
The knowledge. The personnel. The resources.
And at the center of it all, Evan Mercer.
As he stood in his office, overlooking the growing operation, he knew one thing for certain.
This was only the beginning.