Chapter Zero: The Catalyst
May 14, 2012 T minus 7 days
“Have you finished the analysis of the mitosis systems yet, Dr. Tieresias?” the younger doctor spoke impatiently.
“These things do take time, Dr. Corinamos, but yes, I’m almost done confirming the numbers,” the elder scientist responded.
“Well hurry up then, we’re almost at deadline.” Corinamos turned back to his screen of data. Tieresias rolled his eyes, irritated with his younger colleague’s impetuous attitude.
They had been tasked by the CIA to use comprehensive studies from around the world to see how feasible creating ‘monsters’ actually was. They were to present their findings the following Friday to the Directorate of Science and Technology. What purpose this had in military applications seemed to be missing from the concept, but there was still enough interest that Tieresias felt it necessary to partake in the project.
“There seems to be some inconsistency among the transformations here.”
“Well, all of the blood samples seem to be affected somehow, but it’s hard to tell what exactly would turn into what unless we introduce specific DNA for the chemicals to bond to.”
“Are you saying we can influence which species gets fused with human DNA?”
“To a point. The feasibility of this is still miles out of our league, but if these numbers are right…”
“They have to be. You’re checking them.” Corinamos’ beeper flashed. Tieresias went back to work while Corinamos checked who it was from, no doubt one of the airhead strippers who wanted nothing but the handsome doctor’s money.
Tieresias wasn’t about to deny that Corinamos had talent, only being fresh out of Drexel University a year earlier with his biochemistry doctorate. This was quite a find of magnificent proportions, and had it been discovered forty years prior, would have been worth the violations of ethics to pursue further. Tieresias was brought on board as Manchester University’s professor of health science for his expertise in hemotology and data analysis. Though Tieresias was easily a decade over Corinamos, it was clear Corinamos had more social skills while Tieresias preferred the behind-the-scenes work.
Which would have been a perfect arrangement, except that Corinamos was a constant pain in the ass. Whenever he wasn’t insulting the staff’s ability to understand him, he was degrading just about every life form imaginable. Tieresias had even caught him trying to come on to some of the interns who were genuinely interested in a career in scientific investigations. Tieresias suspected that it was his parents’ alumni status in MU (back when it was still ManchesterCollege) and the donations they made that Corinamos was even involved in this project, but so long as they got results, he was content to let the jerk have his fun. Plus, he’d collected enough dirt on Corinamos that, should the inevitable occur, he could easily ruin his reputation with a tell-all of the exploits.
Tieresias’ thoughts were shattered by the blonde’s anger-ridden growl. “Now what’s the matter?”
“The data mining’s going to have to speed up, Jon. The CIA’s bumped our meeting up to Wednesday.”
“What?” Tieresias stood up. “We’re not even close to ready yet! The mining’s going to take at least another three days.”
“Then I suggest you continue the process on the plane and round out enough edges as possible. The CIA’s expecting us no later than 1030 hours.”
“Did you even try to tell them—“
“Have you tried to tell a government operative you need more time? Doesn’t exactly end well.”
“A delay of court date for drunk driving isn’t the same as serious number crunching that could have dire consequences if done improperly.”
“Very funny, but I wouldn’t be going up against Leno anytime soon if I were you. Seriously, we don’t have options. This came from the Directorate himself, we have to go.”
Tieresias leaned back in his chair grabbing his salt-and-pepper hair. This wasn’t going to end well at all…
May 16, 2012 T minus 5 days
Corinamos and Tieresias sat patiently outside the office, Tieresias obviously more nervous than Corinamos. High-profile situations were not on his normal list of routines, so his hands fidgeted in frustration.
“Jon, relax, man,” Corinamos said. “I’m sure everything’s going to be okay.”
“Easy for you to say, Salem,” Tieresias retorted. “Your career’s just getting started…mine is on the line here.”
“Seriously?”
“Depending on the results here, I may not be coming back to the university next year.”
“Jeez, no wonder you’ve been worried sick about the numbers.” Corinamos put a hand on his shoulder and smiled. “Just let me do all the talking, okay?” As Tieresias was about to protest, a slender brunette man walked up to them inquisitively.
“You’re the scientists with ManchesterUniversity, correct?”
“Yes sir. I’m Jonathon Tieresias, and this is Salem Corinamos.”
Shaking both their hands, the man in the black suit smiled. “Zodicar Intago, Director of Science and Technology. We’re looking forward to your presentation today.” Leading them to a board room, Intago continued, “I understand it was difficult getting your plane tickets rescheduled.”
“We were still in the middle of data mining the results for possible concerns,” Tieresias replied. “This bump in the schedule surprised us to say the least.”
“Really…as I understood the report updates from Dr. Corinamos, that phase had already been finished by the time we requested the shift.” Tieresias looked at Corinamos, visibly upset, but before he could act, Corinamos stepped in.
“The mining we were performing related to an unforeseen factor in the research, but we’ve managed to complete it on the way here.”
“Glad to hear it,” Intago remarked as all three walked into a room with four other suited men. Tieresias grew even more uneasy; Moira Pentraco, the woman that had set this entire situation up to begin with, was supposed to be joining them at this meeting, and yet no one at MU had heard from her since. Intago sat down and joined his hands together. “Please begin.”
Corinamos, as usual, took center stage. “We believe we’ve found a compound of chemicals that, when exposed to humans, can alter their DNA and make them branch out into other species that only urban fantasy and horror stories have been able to dream up so far.”
“Explain that,” one of the executives piped up. “Are we talking vampires and werewolves?”
“More than that, I’m afraid. Fae, golems, shapeshifters, aqrubuamelu, sirens, harpies—“
“Okay, you had me until agributellu.”
“No, Aqrubuamelu. It’s a half-scoprion half-human race most notable in Aztec and Mayan cultures. Basically, just as every person’s DNA is vastly different, so too would be their results upon being exposed to the chemicals. A brother and sister, for example, might be afflicted with Creatorium, and—“
“I’m sorry,” another executive spoke up, “Creatorium?”
“That’s what we’re currently calling the combination of chemicals that allow this transformation to take place. We have patents pending on it, but we’re still working the details out on the trademarks. Anyway, a brother and sister exposed to Creatorium may be genetically similar because of having the same parents, but while the boy could turn into a werewolf, the sister could become a naga…erm, a half-snake half-woman. Needless to say, it could cause a whole city to erupt into chaos and anarchy if exposed to it in large amounts.”
“This is all, of course, assuming weaponization of the materials in question, which is the last thing we as Americans want,” Tieresias spoke up, realizing that Corinamos was giving the executives too much of an idea on how to apply it. “In much smaller and controlled circumstances, Creatorium could very well help regrow lost limbs by combining it with certain types of animal materials. Theoretically, it’s possible to control which species a specific person turns into, but only if exposed to the right mixture of DNA from the animals, and only apply them to specific genes or organs for much more specific purposes, depending on the traits we need at that point in time.”
“Right, I should have stated those purposes first. Thank you, Professor,” Corinamos acknowledged. “For example, let’s say a woman has lost her eyesight and can’t see. By applying certain bat DNA with a very light dosage of Creatorium, we could, with a seventy-six point eight percent success rate, give her sonar abilities that would allow her to feel her surroundings based on the noise around her, thus allowing her to be a productive member of society again.”
“So let me get this straight,” Intago noted. “You’ve invented a concoction of materials that can actually turn a human into a creature straight out of a horror flick?”
“I think the medical benefits such as what we’ve discussing far outweigh the disasterous consequences if it were weaponized.”
“Of course, I’m talking if this were to ever get in the wrong hands.”
“With all due respect, sir,” Tieresias began, “there has been a number of questions flowing around the assessment data. Without proper experimentation, it is currently no known way to determine what a test subject might turn into, nor if the subject would retain any mental functions of their previous—“
“My apologies, Doctor Tieresias is clearly still focused on safety of individuals,” Corinamos intervened. “Sometimes he forgets that we are still years away from clinical testing, and even then, current scientific ethics prevent us from experimenting on humans. At this point, all effects on human morality or psychology are merely hypothetical.” Tieresias looked at him, furious that he was undercutting the whole process.
“Of course, we understand,” Director Intago nodded. “But the important thing is that this process is, at least in theory, possible?”
“Very much so, but again, we wouldn’t suggest any wide-scale experimentation until further studies can be conducted. The documentation we’ve done so far is in our notes.”
“Including the chemicals used?”
“Yes, sir. The funny thing was that most of the chemicals were easily accessible. It just took the correct order of combination to allow this to occur.”
“So there is a bit of a security risk here.”
“So long as the public isn’t informed, I don’t foresee a problem.”
“Thank you very much, gentlemen. We’ll take these advisements under consideration.” Corinamos and Tieresias walked out of the board room, with Corinamos grinning while Tieresias fumed.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Tieresias yelled. “First I find out you said stuff to move this meeting up, then you pull that during the meeting?”
“Calm down,” Corinamos teased. “It’s not like they’re going to do anything with the information. Besides, you know how these government types can be; it’ll take at least a decade before anything gets done about it."
- - -
“Do you think they’re aware of what’s going on?”
“Who cares?” the director replied, getting a cigar ready to puff outside. “We have the documentation that this can work. Commence with the plans as we agreed on.”
“May I ask a question, Director Intago?”
“If you must,” the director hissed.
“Why exactly are we doing this to the American people, especially an area of the country that has shown promising economic development the last few years?”
“Our actions are direct orders from the President in order to build support for his health care reform. Failure to comply is considered treason. And that section was chosen specifically because of its conservative history and resistance to the reforms.”
May 20, 2012, 1452 hours T minus 18 hours 8 minutes
Corinamos combed his hair, ready for his date with the media before the big unveil. It was often Corinamos’ role to talk heavy with the press, something he enjoyed to do on a regular basis.
“Salem, we have to abort the unveil.”
“Jonathon, what’s going on?”
“I did some last-minute number crunching, and if my instincts are right, anyone over the age of 27 would be at a huge risk of—“
“You’re acting like they’re actually going to do something, Jonathon! Listen to you!”
“This is the C-I-fucking-A, Salem! Who knows WHAT they have planned! It’s not exactly a small-beans operation, and if they’re asking for something this specific, it can’t be good. We have to cancel the unveiling.”
“You’re out of line this time. We can’t just deny the government money after they spent so much just to fund this research.”
“You’re the one who’s been undermining…look, will you at least consider what I’m saying here? I have a really bad feeling about this whole situation.”
“I still think you’re going a bit overboard with this…look, if it makes you feel better, you won’t be anywhere near the presentation. I’m the one who’s done the majority of the research, you were only a consultant to oversee the process and offer input regarding potential situations. And since there’s documentation on our reports of you protesting this, if anything goes wrong, I’ll take the heat for it.”
“Are you sure, Salem?” Tieresias doubted. It was unlike Corinamos to volunteer for something of this magnitude without some sort of personal gains.
“Trust me, Jon. Your sister’s condition is on the line.”
Tieresias hated having Jasmine used for that purpose, but Corinamos was unmistakenly right. Jasmine’s eyes had gotten much worse, and the surgical procedures were not working.
“I’m holding to your word, Salem. If anything goes wrong…”
“Relax, bub. What could possibly go wrong with a simple presentation?”
As he walked out their hotel room, Tieresias couldn’t help but think that Corinamos saying that only worsened the situation.
May 21, 2012, 0900 hours
Corinamos adjusted his tie, his date from the previous night still in her bedclothes. Being him was really good right now, and with this new medical discovery on the horizon, he was glad Tieresias was sitting this one out. He had almost ruined the presentation five days prior, and he wasn’t about to make the same mistake again. He walked out and strode downtown.
The plan was simple—he was to present Jasmine’s case (without her being there, of course), suggest Creatorium as a viable solution, and see if he could gain backers or volunteers to do a limited controlled trial of the chemical to see if the results Tieresias predicted could be recreated. Based on the data thus far, he was sure they could be. Best of all, Tieresias’ reservations about the whole thing would be removed from discussion, allowing him to market the idea effectively.
Unfortuantely for him, Corinamos never made it.
Right as he was turning the corner to where the press conference was to occur, several planes flew overhead, one of which dropped a large bomb-like container. All Corinamos had to do was look at the fluid inside to know exactly what was about to happen. He only managed to utter a quick prayer before getting hit head-on by a Mack truck distracted by the falling object.
The moment it made impact seconds later, all hell broke loose.
May 21, 2012, 1512 hours
Tieresias awoke to sounds of clanging on the door, trying to get it open. He didn’t know how long he’d been out, but it was clearly past the unveiling of the research. He looked through the lenshole of his hotel room and dropped his jaw. A woman was pleading for life as a pair of men bit her repeatedly, draining her of all fluid of life. Another woman was screaming having sprouted wings from her back, and a girl was shaking her mother trying to wake her up.
Tieresias opened the door and went to the girl to try to help, but he quickly realized it was no use. The mother was already dead.
“Wake up, Mommy!” the girl was screaming. “You’re supposed to take me to Tammy’s today!” Tieresias put his arm on her shoulder.
“I’m sorry, hun…Mommy can’t wake up again,” he broke it to her. The little girl turned and cried on his shoulder, Tieresias himself tearing up. Was this the fruit of Corinamos’ work? What exactly had happened?
It was only then that he heard the emergency broadcast over the radio, “So far, we know that the terrorists bombed the Indiana counties of Allen, Huntington, Whitley, Wabash, Kosciusko, Miami, and Grant. Due to the amounts of chemical weapons used in each attack, all seven counties are now considered to be total losses. Do not approach any of these areas under any circumstances.”
Tieresias hung his head. The areas hit were too ironic to be a coincidence; the CIA had done this.
“What’s your name, sweetie?” Tieresias asked her.
“Scarlett...” she hesitantly answered.
“How old are you?”
“Six.”
“Would you like to help me find other kids who are still awake?”
“Why?”
“You’re not the only one who lost her parents today…maybe we can survive together if we find more people.”
Scarlett sniffed for a second, then nodded. “Okay.”
Tieresias took her hand and led her outside, where it hit him the full brunt of the attack. Buildings were on fire or collapsing around them, people around them were panicking, and…
And it was exactly as Salem had said…chaos and anarchy.
“What happened, mister?”
“Just…call me Jon for now, okay?” he told Scarlett. “Something very bad happened to a lot of good people today.”
“Is anyone coming to help?”
“I don’t think so, Scarlett…”
It was then that the realization dawned on him. He saw a man trying to make sense of everything and walked up to him. Before he could talk, though, the man looked up with dragon-like eyes.
“Stay away from me, man! I can’t…control…”
“Yes you can…just focus on me. What’s your name?”
“Levi…”
“Levethix?” Tieresias asked. He’d remembered this kid as one of the students who’d taken a very philanthropist look at Fort Wayne politics.
“Yeah…Levethix Askari.”
“Do you remember who I am?” Levethix strained for a second, his nature
“Yes, Professor…”
“Good. Can you stand up?”
“I can try…” Levi stood up slowly, gaining confidence once he was on his feet. “What’s happening to me?”
“Nothing that is reversible, I’m afraid…how many others survived?”
“Don’t know…all I know is that there are not enough of us to make the city last. I overheard them talking about just leaving us.”
“Is that true?” a ten-year-old called out. “They’re just going to let us die?”
“Twain, don’t say that!” his female friend cried out. She looked no older than the boy. “The government wouldn’t just leave us here like that?”
“And how do we know they didn’t do this to us, Saige?” he replied.
The crowd surrounding him, kids, teenagers, and college students, were beginning to panic. Tieresias knew he had to say something, so he raised his hand.
“Look, I know what’s going on here…because I was around for the behind the scenes of its development. But I protested its development for this exact reason. I knew what would happen if the chemicals got weaponized, but no one ever paid attention to me about it.” He lowered his head, lowering his volume. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am about this…I was sworn to secrecy by our own government. They’re the ones who did this to us, for what reason I don’t know, but they did it.
“But that doesn’t mean we’re doomed to extinction. We have to be willing to stand together, even as our new racial divides threaten to tear us apart. They’re going to pretend we don’t exist anymore, but we can show them all that we don’t need the outside world to survive. Seven counties got hit and are being taken off the map. That’s enough for a whole new country right here. But I ask you, whom among you has the leadership and the gumption to build a nation of scared and horrified people into a new era of prosperity? Who can unite this land into a new and glorious country that defies the expectations of the outside world?”
“I…” Levi spoke up, “…I’d like to give it a try.”
“That’s a great idea,” a second voice spoke up. Tieresias turned around to see his sister Jasmine. He rushed to her and gave her a hug, then looked into her face. He was heartbroken to see her eyes no longer there, apparently burned out in the explosion. He let tears fall in silence, thinking he’d failed her. But it was her next reaction that made him double-take.
“Don’t cry, Johnny…you’re doing just fine.”
“How did you—“
“I don’t know how, but somehow I’m able to see not only my surroundings, but other things as well. You’re right, we do need to band together. And I see that Levi has great potential as a leader for this time.” Turning to the rest of the group, she raised her arms. “What say you? My brother wishes to help the underage victims of this Catalyst, but he can only do so if the right person is in charge. It’s up to you.” The people around agreed, and Levi took a deep breath.
“Then our first action is for each former county to bring one representative to Fort Wayne. Our new nation of Nocturne, the Night Country, may have a new beginning, but it will be one of cooperation, of interdependence, and of proving that we can survive the worst humanity had to offer and still stand tall and proud. Long live Nocturne!”
Watching Levi work the crowd, with Scarlett holding his hand, Tieresias knew that things were going to be alright after all. Sure, his worst nightmares had been realized, but he had a purpose. He was one of the few humans to survive the Catalyst…and he would use that to inspire others throughout Nocturne.