Discovering

Lee

— Lee!

— Lee!

— Yes?

My brain decided to come out of the lethargy it was in, Gaia, how come I couldn't stop feeling that tickle on my lips and that sweet caramel taste with coffee? And what was up with that reaction on our skin when we touched each other?

By the cosmos, how come I said I wasn't interested in her when I've been trying to kiss those lips since I met her? Idiot, how could you not respond to that kiss? I swear all I wanted was for someone to beat me until I understood why I was such a fool.

— Where's Alexa?

— I don't know, she's gone.

— What do you mean, she's gone?!

— Calm down, Luis, she can't be far away.

— You're right, Alexa is a responsible girl.

— Ha!

Her father and my uncle looked at me strangely.

— Are you all right, Lee?

No, I thought.

— Yes, it's all right, we'd better go get her. — We split up to make it faster, after a while I had run out of places and all that was left to do was to check the pool. I think my heart stopped when I looked and saw her at the bottom.

>> I shouted her name in fear, but I calmed down when I saw bubbles on the surface, slight, but they were there. I wanted to get her out of there, but after hearing what she was thinking at that moment in the garden, how hurt she was and embarrassed to the point that she wished to disappear, I reconsidered- Mr. Darell, uncle!

They immediately appeared at my side, and I pointed to where she was. Her father panicked and tried to pull her out, but her uncle stopped him, by telling him that everything is fine, that she would come out when she was ready. I was so shocked; how long could she be underwater?

— She is fine, don't worry, Luis.

— Forgive me for asking, but what exactly was your wife doing, what kind of inoculations did she have?

He ran his hands over his face and then took a breath.

— Alin believed in the theory that, due to the evolution suffered by humans, it was possible to insert certain genes from animals. Genes that would give us the possibility, or at least increase it, of communicating with them through the sense of smell, by sounds, and so on. She believed that there was a way to live out there without being a constant victim of the new changes in nature.

— Excuse me, but that's crazy, it's even forbidden.

— I know, but when something got into her head, there was no way to stop her. That's why she started on herself and stopped because of the pregnancy.

— And what was her success rate?

— I'm not certain, I've never been able to check.

Kim cleared his throat.

— I have.

— What?!

— Alin left me in charge, she was so remorseful that she couldn't perform the tests on her daughter. So, everything passed into my hands, I keep all her checkups with the excuse of training. — He bit his lower lip and continued-. As a child, she did not report any changes, but when she entered puberty, the changes began.

>> I only tested her interaction with domesticated animals which was quite effective. But what happened with the wolf proved what her mother said, it is possible to interact with animals. Blood tests show that there are differences in her platelets, they are stickier than ours. While this doesn't prove anything out of this world, it means that her coagulation is faster and from what I've seen, she heals much faster also. She even has red blood cells containing nuclei, which means that her immune response is higher and more effective than ours.

>> I have not been able to do genetic testing, but I am sure it will show differences. Physically, just by looking at her closely, you can see certain traits in her, different from humans now. In these years we have varied in skin color, Alexa is much whiter. The eyes, our pupils are bigger. In that aspect, she has them a little bit bigger, which allows her to fully adapt to the dark.

>> She can do incredible things, she is a fast learner, she has a photographic memory, she can follow a scent, she has a perfect sense of direction, and she can endure a long time underwater. All this without proper training, only with the basics. No doubt Alin achieved the man of the future, able to survive the outside world.

— That's why I decided to go to the Mixed Colony and train there.

— Alexa, daughter?! What are you talking about?

— I will fulfill my mother's dream; I will live in the outside world and test her theory. Mr. Kim, could you please train me, while I am there, I at least want to fulfill part of my dream too.

— No, Alex, that's not right.

— Dad, you have protected me for a long time, and I thank you for that, however, it is no longer possible. Living in the colonies is highly improbable, a risk too high. I would rather perish out there trying than allow my kind to use me as a lab rat.

— Alexa. — She looked at my uncle—. In the Mixed Colony, you can stay, your secret will be kept there, and we will check your evolution.

— Evolution or aberration? — I saw the pain in her eyes, I heard everything she was thinking, and I felt pain. For some reason, she saw herself as something that was not supposed to exist—. No one can hide me for more than a few months, they will look for me, they will do anything to have me, and I don't want anyone to die for me.

— I've watched you grow up; your mother made me responsible for you. I am not going to release you into that world without knowing that you are fully ready. You are still very immature, and now you feel locked up, but believe in me.

>> I was waiting for something like this to happen, not only me, but your grandparents are also waiting for you in the new colony. They prepared for this moment, for years they have listened to your reports and have created the conditions for your arrival.

— Why didn't you tell me about this, Kim?

—I'm sorry Luis, but for years you have carried all this alone, my friend, and I knew you were too proud to accept my help or let your in-laws intervene. Besides, your wife made me promise that I would take care of everything if we reached the critical point, and it has come, so I will keep my promise.

As I covered Ale with a towel, trying to touch her as little as possible because I noticed how her posture hardened with my proximity, I knew she was hurt because of me. Her father adopted a dark demeanor and announced that tomorrow we were on our way no matter what. The reality was that we were not safe in this colony or any other but the mixed one.