2 Chapter 1 A New Era
RB Chapter 1 A New Era
"In the year 2134, on June 5th, a respected genetic engineer at the time, Edward Lord crushed a test tube filled with a red liquid as he shouted out the words... Who among you knows them?"
A black skinned man asked as he stood in front of a room filled with teens. He was one of the few people currently alive who had witnessed the historical event.
It was currently February 14th, 2199. It was the year ending the 22nd century.
This classroom was in the continent of Africa, where a country named Uganda used to be, specifically its capital city.
The world changed drastically on that fateful day 65 years ago.
When Edward Lord crushed the test tube, the organisms inside instantly turned into a blood mist as if they had detected that they were in the air.
It vanished as the infiltrated the gathered people, multiplied in a matter of seconds using their energy and produced more of themselves which exited through the pores and propelled themselves in search of more targets.
The ones which stayed inside, started rewriting the DNA of the gathered staff and reporters.
They howled on agony. Some of them scratched their skin as if they wanted to tear it off. The ones with a powerful will tried to control their bodies to prevent the spread.
Edward Lord, the first target for the organisms started showing visible signs around 30 seconds after shattering the test tube.
Bulges grew on his skin as his body enlarged before it exploded into pieces of flesh and organs. Even though he died, the pieces of flesh also started enlarging and some started to try and form into him.
Some pieces grew eyes, others, hands but ultimately, they stopped moving due to insufficient energy and a blood mist was released from them.
The organisms escaped but not before absorbing all the energy in the pieces of flesh. They turned into dried husks. Even their DNA collapsed, making them essentially dead.
Some reporters and staff with powerful wills managed to hold on and by luck assimilated the organisms.
The others who couldn't, faced the same end as Edward Lord.
The ones who survived finally looked around and saw only blood stains and dried skin like pieces of their former neighbours. Around ten people had survived out of the hundreds.
Some screamed while others raced outside. The same scene presented itself to them as people were wailing, exploding or shouting on the streets. Many accidents were prevented due to AI managing the moving vehicles but nothing could stop the spread of the organisms.
The same scenario repeated itself in all the continents as the carriers who were entrusted with the test tubes shattered them.
It didn't just stop at humans, all life on the planet experienced the same, even plant life.
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"Who can tell me the answer?" The male teacher with asked as his face turned serious.
None of the teens in the class raised their hands except for one.
It was a girl wearing a green dress with a white sweater on top.
She had brown eyes and black long hair. Even though her figure could only be observed a little from the dress, everyone knew that it was at goddess standard. Even her face was attractive. She was the idol of the class.
They could only stare at her from afar as she was out of their league except for one boy.
"Only Leah pays attention, what are the rest of you doing?" He berated them.
He looked to be in his 30s but he was around 90. The human lifespan had been extended to 300 years after the apocalyptic event triggered by Edward Lord.
"He said," Its time for humans to evolve." She answered, an excited gleam in her eyes. This was her favourite lesson.
"You are right, Leah." The teacher said.
The screen behind him flashed an alarm signalling the end of classes.
It had reached 2:00 pm. Classes ended at this time as the students had other things to do.
"Hey, Leah! Do you want to go out with me?" A thin boy asked as he stood in front of her desk. He was black haired and had light blue eyes which formed a nice contrast with his dark skin.
He was handsome and his background matched that of this young girl.
"No!" She rejected, before packing her things and racing out of the classroom.
The light blue eyed youth didn't falter or betray any embarassment, as this had happened many times before. Even the classmates were used to it.
'One day, I will make you mine!' He swore to himself as faint traces of electrical sparks lit up his blue eyes.
This school was called Mubiri High school. It had six grades and currently, they were in the second grade.
Leah, who had run outside looked upwards at the gloomy sky.
'He hasn't yet got the qualifications to arouse interest in me.' She thought before lowering her head and walking out the gate.
The boy whom she had rejected was called, Elec Masanyalaze. His last name was also the name of his clan, one of the ten clans governing this city.
Elec, looked through the window of the second floor and saw her boarding the vehicle from her family, which had come to pick her up.
'Time to go, today, father said he has an important thing to tell me.' He thought before going outside.
He had few friends and they were of the same status as he, he looked down on all his other classmates even though they came from prominent families.
This school was funded/owned by the ten ruling clans, and only children of prominent families were allowed in.
He boarded a car from his family as the driver held the door for him.
"Do you know what father is going to tell me, Mr. Lee?" He asked the driver, though, in reality he was a butler of their family clan, serving the head who was Elec's father.
"I don't know!" He answered without any change in expression as he drove away.
Elec, didn't know the butler's second name but he had heard from his father that he was as strong as him.
Apart from his father and mother, he was the only other person he respected in the family.
"How is it going with courting young miss Leah?" Mr. Lee asked.
"The same." Elec answered in a dull voice.
"You should probably change tactics?" He suggested after letting out an exasperated sigh.
His young clan lord didn't have any experience with courting girls and wasn't interested in learning. It was giving the clan leader a headache.
Leah Musota Butwa was from the Musota Butwa clan, one of the ten clans and users of poison.
A union with their clan would bring their two clans together and strengthen them against the other clans.
"Young lord, many scions, even those older than you are like dogs in heat chasing after her, you study in the same class with her but aren't making any progress, I wonder what's going on in your mind."
"Those fools don't understand her, she also thinks she is smart but I know her thoughts. She will eventually fall into my grasp." He mocked the others.
Mr. Lee didn't say another word the rest of the way while Elec was content with the silence.
Flying cars which had existed during the year, 2134 were currently not available. Society went back to wheeled cars.
The technology existed to make them but, mining for resources had become hard with all the mutated beasts running around. No one had the time to redirect A.I.s to manage flight traffic. All resources were to defend the city.
The car arrived at tall skyscraper at the southern part of the city. The school was located on the central part of the city.
Mr. Lee alighted and went around to the left side. He opened the door for Elec, who alighted.
They entered the building and entered an elevator.
"Lowest crypt." Mr. Lee spoke upon which Elec felt a feeling of weightlessness as the elevator descended.
He knew that there were underground floors but he had never heard of the one Mr. Lee mentioned.
It raised his eyebrows a bit, but he kept silent and decided to wait and see.
It took around 20 seconds before it stopped and a chime signalled the opening of the doors.
Elec, saw his father the moment the doors opened.
He was standing their staring at them. It seemed he had been waiting.
Elec's father, clan leader of the Masanyalaze clan was a burly man with a menacing look. Muscles could be seen vaguely straining his black suit. He had a beard at the bottom of his chin and currently was stroking it.
He looked brutish but a light if wisdom gleamed deep within his eyes.
"Son! This has been a long term project which was prepared ever since your mother got pregnant with you. it is a present for you." His dad said with a calm face, but his voice betrayed traces of excitement.
The man's blue eyes had electricity sparking through the pupils as he spoke. It was a trait exclusive to the Masanyalaze clan, 'blue electric eyes'.
