《Mitosis: A Battle for Mankind》 Prologue: The Beginning of the End ¡°The Incandescent¡± is what we call it. A virus genetically evolved to kill. It was first created as a bio-weapon for war. A living definition of hell on earth, a man made catastrophe, a predator that hide amongst its prey. I was there, when it happened, when it all began¡­ The XMA-0730-XTA or otherwise known as ¡°The Incandescent,¡± was a biological weapon created to make an opening for allies. It was biologically engineered to kill everything it touches, Slowly but Surely. Its DNA was specifically created from scratch, scientists easily manipulating Mother Nature itself as we became gods of our own, creating life for our needs. The only flaw that this specific virus has was its brittleness to nature. Just minutes after being deployed, this virus dies because of Oxygen. Oxygen is basically a poison to this virus. This flaw was added to the virus¡¯ DNA to make sure it has a fail-safe. It was a scientific marvel, a masterpiece in the art of war! 10 years later, this so called weapon ironically made a long age of world peace, uniting all the nations and continents as one. Or so they thought as the enemy they were searching for was right underneath their noses¡­ *bzzt**bzzt* ¡°Ughhhh¡­¡± I said as I rose up the bed. I looked at the time, it was 4:27 in the morning, even though many people are still sleeping in their homes right now, it was the start of the day for me. Oh, still haven¡¯t introduce myself, I am Saturn E. Wellingford, a scientist that works for the military. I had this job for 2 years now, and in that span, I received awards that normal people couldn¡¯t easily comprehend. I was the lead scientist that was under the cultivation of ¡°The Incandescent.¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. I dressed up, ready for another grueling day ahead of me. I head outside of my apartment, waiting for the military service that will escort me to the Irysis Lab, the birthplace of the virus. After a brief talk with a General, I went in the lab looked into a microscope placed above the breeding grounds of this virus. One was off... It has a sleeker look than others of its kind, I called my friend and made him look into it and confirmed that it has evolved. I was filled with joy as the rate of a man-made virus evolving was very, very slim. We moved that specific virus for more detailed research only to find something much more. It was evolving in a rapid pace, strands of DNA was forming out of nowhere as it was magic. I called it a day as I made my way back home... The next morning was the same get dressed, and then wait for the military truck to pick me up. Time passed as I waited and waited for it but it never showed up... Strange I guess they made they made this day a day off, I really don¡¯t want to work today so it¡¯s a win-win. I quickly head for the bed to make up my almost sleepless nights. When I woke up, I quickly turn on the T.V to listen to some news while sipping my coffee. Something caught my attention, A feed said that a Irysis Lab was rendered unreachable as a deadly virus escaped there. Wait¡­That looks a lot like, The virus escaped, how? Why? When? This questions ran into my head as I was thinking the worst case scenario. They die after minutes of deployed! I think the fail-safe will work as the virus will just die aft- I quickly stopped after I remember the mutated Incandescent. I think this is the start of something grim¡­ Chapter 1: The Main Battalion(of science!) I changed some things around. Made changes here and there to make it more pleasing to the eye. First chapter of the story, Enjoy! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 3 days later, ¡°A Irysis Laboratory has been deemed untouchable as a single strain of the man-made virus Incandescent is killing everything in sight. This lab has been quarantined and is being studied by Scientist to find a way to kill the virus that resides within it.¡± The news today is pretty terrifying, we need to isolate that lab by now or the virus will start to find a suitable patient zero. But, the strain is constantly evolving, pretty sure by now, colonies of the mutated virus is in the Irysis Lab. I need to find a way to get samples of the virus and try to create anti-bodies before it¡¯s too late. I opened the radio to listen to the afternoon news, maybe I¡¯ll find more information there. And so I sat for about five minutes listening to try and find some information. And then¡­ ¡°This just came in¡­ Oh God¡­This is bad¡± I was shocked. I never heard a news that troubled the newscaster in years, this is serious. ¡°The Irysis Laboratory that had been quarantined has been bombed by military as the virus infected many people that are on site. The infected people quickly had severe cases of blood-loss, heart stopping after just 10 seconds of contact with the virus¡­ The lead scientists said that the virus had quickly adapted to oxygen and now more deadlier than ever.¡± They bombed the lab?!? The military does not act until instructions are given, how come they bombed it already? I need to move now! *ring**ring* I quickly answered the phone, they finally called me. ¡°Hello!¡± I said in a loud tone ¡°So you heard the news¡­ Come quickly, we need you. You know more about the virus than anyone in this facility¡± Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Even at the time like this Saturn? Just get to here and we¡¯ll inform to you what happened.¡± ¡°Where is here?¡± ¡°At the secondary lab, we got a escort to guide you here. We need you¡­¡± I quickly got dressed and waited outside. In the road, I quickly noticed a Humvee going to my direction. Why did they send a Humvee to me? Am I a large part of this operation? The Humvee arrived and a soldier opened the door. ¡°Get your ass up here soldier!¡± I got on the Humvee. I chatted with the soldier and found out more about what happened. He said that the virus, infected one of his comrade. The virus infected more people by the minute, they quickly collapsed, then fell to the ground. They got the instructions to quickly escape the scientists at a nearby lab. After that, they immediately came to get me. They said that I was a big part of this operation. They don¡¯t want their biggest hope to die in the midst of the virus. After about 30 minutes of chatting, we finally arrived at a big Irysis Laboratory. Compared to our laboratory, this laboratory is twice as massive. ¡°This is your home for now, try to make yourself home. Before that, the scientists want to talk to you about the virus¡± I then went inside the lab, scientists and military personnel are everywhere. I think that the main force of this operation is assigned here. ¡°Hello Saturn¡­ So you finally decided to show up? I been waiting for you¡± Chapter 2: Quarantine ¡°William? Is that you?¡± ¡°Yo! Long time no see! It¡¯s been a while¡± It¡¯s William O. Lorry my college buddy. We worked with each other for quite a while but was separated when I was hired by the military. ¡°You are here too?¡± ¡°Hehe, guess we are partners again! I can¡¯t believe when the military looked at my bio, they¡¯ll immediately hire me¡± We chatted for a while, talking about life and stuff. But the general in charge of the facility called us for a mission briefing. ¡°Listen up maggots! Let us run through a quick briefing before starting this mission. We need to take samples from the quarantined laboratory, this sample will help us better understand the virus that we are dealing with...¡± I packed up, this is going to be a long day as we are going to the laboratory to get some samples. I better be ready or else I might be infected. ¡°Squad number 1, you will escort all scientists to the laboratory. Be sure to bring quarantine suits to make sure no one gets infected.¡± ¡°Squad 2 you are with me. We¡¯ll go through the building, salvage anything that we might need in this situation.¡± ¡°I¡¯m counting on you! I was about ready to leave when the general called me. ¡°Saturn! You are staying here, we can¡¯t lose such a valuable scientist. Just monitor us from the cameras linked to the central computer.¡± *sigh*¡±Yes sir¡­¡± I sat and watched them leave. On the bright side all I needed to do is watch them in this computer. I can¡¯t believe the CCTVs survived the bombing or maybe it is just a minor bombing with small bombs. They quickly arrived on-site with scientists on board. The scientist went to the research lab where we first discovered this mutated virus. They quickly brought out petri dishes and took samples of the room. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.I moved to another camera to see Squad 2 in the outside of the building they were looking for things that could be recycled to be used on this laboratory. I moved to Squad 1 and then see something was off¡­ They were acting strangely. I radioed the general, he quickly responded and rushed to the first squad. I think the first squad got infected. They are acting very strangely, they are really uneasy. I feel something is bothering them, when the general and the rest of Squad 2 arrived they talked for a little bit and then the general acted strange too. What is happening? The general radioed me, he said that a town north of the infected laboratory has been evacuated. The virus got there sooner than we thought. Squad 1 and the scientist went home to analyze the samples but the general and his squad are heading to the quarantined city. Squad 1 arrived just shortly they left¡­ They must be in a hurry. ¡°Saturn, we need to get the samples examined ASAP. This just took a turn for the worse, this virus is rapidly evolving, we need a vaccine or a just a loophole to help us gain an advantage.¡± I rushed to the lab, when I looked at this virus I was shocked. The Incandescent is like a whole new virus with new traits and DNA strands, it adapted that fast. This is unbelievable! The general called in. He said that we need to find a loophole before it is too late. The virus had infected Hamilton in just a couple of seconds. We examined this virus. Taking data and hoping to find a loophole in its DNA. It¡¯s hard to judge whether this thing could be stopped. In fact it¡¯s killing eve- Wait¡­ Killing everything¡­ If we could alter its diet we could make it that it would kill other Incandescents in the area. This might be the loophole that we had been waiting for! I headed to the laboratory to the nursery to nurture this killer. Make it go cannibalistic on its own species. If successful, we might have a chance here¡­ If not, I don¡¯t know what to expect¡­ Side Chapter: A Once Economic Hub, Hamilton Location: Hamilton City Date: April 25, 2067 Emergency sirens of ambulance and fire trucks run through the city. Panicked civilians are rampaging through groceries and malls to supply their needs. This is what can be seen... People are rioting at the mayor¡¯s office, protesting that they too have the right to escape before it¡¯s too late. The mayor soon delivers as militaries came to evacuate the people of Hamilton. It is coming, the once protector of peace, once the savior of humanity, now on a rampage to destroy everything on its path. Some people sadly did not make it, they too died in with the city. Streets are emptied. Only left with the people who unfortunately did not received help. Then it came¡­ Destroying what once was a economic hub of this century, the ones that once lived there only left of the memories of the past. This is the power of Mother Nature. Balancing the world to maintain order, this is what she wants. She wants us dead. We have caused unbearable pain to her that she decides to kill us herself. This is what we done. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Meanwhile¡­ Squad 1¡¯s POV ¡°We are on our way, meet us on the mayor¡¯s office. We¡¯ll see if we can salvage something worthwhile.¡± the general said to the man he was talking with. He seemed worried sick. ¡°Thank you for accepting our offer...¡± ¡°We got our work cut out for us. Let us just make sure we come back alive, I can¡¯t help losing Squad 2 with me¡­¡± The travel to Hamilton was long. Cars are everywhere, although no one is driving them, the ones who did just succumbed to death. I just can¡¯t help to feel sorry for them¡­ The general from quadrant 10 said that the virus came too quickly. It took them by surprise, he also added that trucks and humvees are limited. He just can¡¯t accept that two-third of the town was dead in just a matter of seconds. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. We finally arrived at Hamilton(They have gas masks before going to Hamilton). The whole city had been quarantined, it has become a place of anarchy. Cars are scattered everywhere, heck we can¡¯t even go through streets at decent speed. The streets are also covered in trash. This place had been terraformed in just a couple of hours¡­ We arrived at a small military base on the side of town. They are shutting down all ways to get to the city, closing all roads one by one. ¡°So you are the general of the operation. Nice to meet you, the name¡¯s Olliver P. Green of the quadrant 10. How is the operation doing?¡±the general of quadrant 10 has a pretty small frame for such a task. I guess I cannot judge him by his appearance. The general ordered me to look around the city with my fellow comrades and others from quadrant 10. We looked around the city, taking in scrap from vehicles and building to be later used in the operation. They said it will be decontaminated first before seeing usage in the laboratories. It was all peaceful in Hamilton, I can¡¯t believe such a bustling city become like this... I was daydreaming for a moment until I heard a announcement in our Humvee. ¡°I found a loophole in the virus. We had created a strand on the samples to make it eat others. We just need someone to release it at the ground zero.¡± Saturn radioed that he found out a loophole. This is some exiting news. We now need to head back to base and make sure to decontaminate the scraps that we picked up, I told the general the news and he told us to go back to the laboratory to test the cultivated virus. ¡°Just leave me here, I will meet with you back in the lab. Just make sure to leave a humvee for me.¡± With the orders, a new operation had started, he said that it will be called, Operation: White Out. An operation to wipe out the virus before it spread to other countries. Chapter 3: Operation: White Out This is it! We just need to test this bad boys out the first laboratory, if it works then we can mass-produce this strand of Incandescent to the military. *beep, beep* It looks like they arrived, that was fast. I better start moving the so-called anti-body to make it much more easier to move. ¡°Let¡¯s go! We need to move before it turns dark, we are losing time Saturn!¡± it looks like they are on a hurry to test this out. ¡°Coming!¡± I said whilst packing my bag. Finally, a mission based around on what I made¡­ I got on the humvee and we left with just me and the soldiers of squad 1. This thing is pretty comfortable. I thought of what it was like before any of this started. To think it will come down to this. It has been 2 months after that faithful incident¡­ 2 months before, I just saw the virus. When it all began, time goes by so fast¡­ Before I was just an inspiring scientist that had a dream to change the world, to make it much safer, to make it peaceful¡­ I can¡¯t believe in two months, a part of the world had gone into utter despair. All because I cannot kill that mutated virus. It was me, me that started this time of despair. I was a monster, a monster that killed many innocent live just for the sake of becoming a much more powerful. When I was hired as the lead scientist at the Irysis Lab, I just cannot comprehend the joy that I experienced. It was a once in a lifetime experience. *sigh* The good ol¡¯ times. ¡°Hey Saturn, put on your gas mask. We are going in infected territories anytime soon¡± I put on my gas mask, God, this is nerve wracking. After we went through several military checkpoints we finally arrived. Ground zero¡­ The place where it all started¡­ I released my virus and hoped for the best, this need to work so that we have a chance of winning. I grabbed samples from different parts of the laboratory and placed them in a petri dish. This is it, the time of revelations. I placed the first sample into the microscope. I looked into the lens, but it is hard to make out what is in there(gas mask on). We just need to examine the sample at the laboratory. ¡°We will just send this to the lab. You take a break, you are working for months without stopping. We will send you home to your house and call you when we need you.¡± If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. 3 hours later I turned on the television to hear the news. I took a sip of coffee¡­ Finally back home, far from trouble. My house is located at a town called Lenin. Lenin is far, far south from the laboratory that we are currently working on. This is heaven, a chance to relax. ¡°Saturn E. Wellingford, a lead scientist at the new Operation: White Out had discovered a loophole in the virus. The loophole is believed to be the same virus but with different properties. Samples had been given to military to mass-produce this anti-bio weapon¡­ More details at 6.¡± W-wait... it worked. It worked! Finally, we can defeat this virus once and for all! A chance to win a battle against nature itself! After a brief moment of partying I slept for the night. I can finally sleep peacefully. Morning *bzzt**bzzt* I turned off the alarm and got out of bed. A turned on the tv, made some espresso and sat back to watch the news. ¡°The anti-bio virus had been successful. Hamilton and ground zero had been bombed with this new-found strand of Incandescent. Officials say that after a week or so, Hamilton and ground zero can be opened to the public.¡± Finally, Hamilton will be opened again. I can¡¯t believe we just avoided a bullet. This time it¡¯s a ever-evolving virus, t-that q-q-quickly adapts t-to anything thrown at it¡­ I called the general, make sure to double check the samples if anything is off. ¡°Hmmm¡­ This is strange¡± Just like I thought the virus adapted and ate all of my modified ones. We need to say this to the media before they open the land borders of Hamilton. The general said that I need to get there pronto. If the virus evolves again, it could be unstoppable, we need to act fast. Chapter 4: That Same Dreaded Fate Note: I will be gone for a few days so expect my next chapter to be late. I will just post this chapter sooner to make up for the loss. As always, Enjoy! -JustARandomDude =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ¡°What did you say?!? Impossible¡­ J-just how can a virus control another virus?¡± ¡°Even we can¡¯t believe it too. The virus just evolves too fast, if we could only stop its evolution process.¡± The general came barreling into the laboratory, he went directly to the main computer and fiddled with the control. He is searching for something, but what? Kingstown appeared on screen, why is he searching for that? Kingstown is a city with superb medical and military force, basically a town that is immune to the disease. It is also located northwest of Hamilton, about 1700 kilometers from Hamilton and 500km southwest from this main lab. One last thing about it that it is surrounded by water, people can only get to this city by sea or air. ¡°Pack up now, we are going to help Kingstown.¡± ¡°Help? What are you talking about, Kingstown has a powerful military force. Why do they need our help?¡± I said as I scratch my head, searching my brain to find answers to my own questions.¡± ¡°Everyone, we need to move now, the virus is within Kingstown land borders already.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible general. A virus cannot transfer from one place to another that fast, it will take days for it to even reach Lagmoore.¡± It seemed William had the same idea too. ¡°Whatever happened it just appeared there. I think it infected a human that took an airplane to Kingstown and started to infect others too. Death tolls are already rising.¡± ¡°Why do we need to move there?¡±The general is acting weird, is he hiding something? ¡°¡­¡± ¡°General are you hiding something? You are acting pretty strange.¡± ¡°*sigh*¡­The virus is heading to this very laboratory. It is expected to be here at 1600hrs today¡­ Just pack up, we need to move to Kingstown because there is a laboratory there that can rival ours. I already contacted the one that is in charge there so we don¡¯t have to worry about anything.¡± ¡°What!¡± It¡¯s already 1500hrs, we need to pack up soon or else we will be eaten alive. ¡°Alright, all humvees and jeeps are ready to go!¡± the soldier just said that in a happy tune. Why is he even happy? Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. All of us got into individual jeeps and humvees and jeeps as we leave the lab to die. Soldier said to leave all the valuble things behind for it is only just a bitter reminder of this very moment Well, looks like this is goodbye to the second laboratory... To think it will suffer the same dreaded fate as the first one. ¡°We are arriving at the LZ point general. Expect pickup in just a moment¡± Wait, pickup? ¡°Happy to hear you voice, we are also just arriving at the LZ.¡± We stopped at an abandoned airport. This was the same airport that once served Hamilton and its neighboring cities. But due to the viral outbreak, it was left to die. ¡°Get your ass out of the car and go to the runway.¡± I stood by the runway thinking of what are they using to pickup us. A helicopter? A biplane? A Boeing 747? There is just so many to think of. I stopped daydreaming as a heard an airplane engine booming through the air. But there is no plane in sight. And then I saw a silhouette of a big aircraft coming our way. At first I had trouble distinguishing it until it came closer to us. I just can¡¯t believe my eyes when I saw that it was a C-130 Hercules. So this is our first experiencing a proper military backup huh. We packed up our bags and the general droves some humvees to the plane. How are they gonna fit all that, we still have 2 jeeps and a humvee left. A second plane came into my view. So that¡¯s how. I am really worried of every nuke and cranny. The lead scientists and Squad 1 are on plane one and the rest on plane two. I strapped on the belt and waited for the soldiers to tie the vehicles into place. This is exiting, I can¡¯t comprehend the joy that I am experiencing. ¡°This is your captain speaking, strap your belts for this will be a long flight.We will arrive at base at approximately 0800 hrs.¡± ¡°Checking gears¡­ Gears 1 2 3 are set. Engine on¡­ 1 to 4 are working fine. Ready for liftoff everyone!¡± The plane lifted off from the runway as we head to Kingstown. I could hear something from the distance, jets? ¡°Looks like here are our bodyguards.¡± They even have jets? This is insane! I just can¡¯t wait to see what awaits us in Kingstown. Chapter 5: An Early Ending Note: I¡¯m really sorry about this but I am officially ending this fiction. It¡¯s been a short one, but I really enjoyed writing this one down in my notepad. I am ending this for I work is stressing me out for a while and I cannot just upload this in the nick of time, I just can¡¯t create it for I do not have enough spare time in my hands, again, sorry for ending this early. Also sorry for the rushed ending. Rock on and enjoy! -JustARandomDude =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ¡°Fasten your seatbelts. We¡¯ve arrived at Kingstown, expect media.¡± Media huh, my first taste of fame in person. After hours of sitting around, daydreaming and talking to others we finally arrived. A bigger lab, which mean more tools to help speed up the process, another step up from our little lab, so we are in the main game. The back door opened, revealing the huge crowd scattered around the plane. I never expected this much in such short time. The general of the military at Kingstown greeted us. ¡°So this is the one that could stop all of this? Nice to meet you Saturn!¡± ¡°How do you know my name? We just met.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be silly, you are all around the media right now.¡± ¡°Oh right, that modified virus I made.¡± ¡°Just bring it to the lab, we need to make it stronger, faster than the Incandescent¡± ¡°Also don¡¯t wander too far from us, the media might overwhelm you.¡± I stick around the two generals. The media here is like the ocean, wander too far, you might get lost. We went through the doors of the laboratory. So this is the main taskforce? The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Here we are, your new home. Your room is in sector C, room 23. Just take a walk to there.¡± I walked to my room, I really had trouble finding it. This thing is just too big of a place. I finally found my room after a minute worth of walking. I opened the door¡­ This is just luxurious! Better than my apartment, finally I can rest for a moment. I took off my shoe and headed straight to bed. Just a little nap can¡¯t hurt. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Moments later That was a really good nap, a first at work. I remembered that they need my modified virus. I walked to the lab, like earlier I had a hard time locating it. I asked people who worked there and finally I located it, the laboratory. I saw the general, I walked to him and gave him the virus. ¡°To the victor goes the spoils, your virus is magnificent.¡± ¡°What did you say? I haven¡¯t done anything yet.¡± ¡°Your virus had saved lives already. Your first batch actually worked!¡± ¡°What?¡± Did the general said the truth, worked? My first batch worked? ¡°The media¡¯s here as well¡± =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= I been hailed as a hero of this generation, one of the most influential person of this millennium. To think my journey started in a virus development site. Thanks for a roller coaster ride on this site, Life just catch up to me sometimes, I can''t just have fun.