LYCCYX Episode 1: The Declaration Read online

  The Birth of Pure Evil

  Several days passed before we heard anything at all regarding the incident. Dyas, Baaz, and I had been debriefed and were told to enjoy our leave but to stand by for activation as the thermal scan for survivors was currently underway. The chances of any living thing surviving that blast unscathed were next to nothing. The only thing that saved us was our protective gear. We were all doing our best to come to terms with the possible loss of our friends and fellow workers. There were civilians and even families living aboard LB127.

  During the debriefing, we were given more insight into the nature of the Haven Project. The field of biological computing has advanced far more than any of us had realized. Sure, we heard that scientists were able to passively control bacterial cells by altering the DNA sequence of the cell, but nothing could have prepared us for what we learned: scientists could now create a fully functioning, programmable supercomputer inside of a viral cell. The Haven Project involved trillions of these “viral UAVs” dispersed by the blast along with other experimental compounds intended to restructure the moon’s surface and transform it into rich, life-sustaining soil.

  We were already aware of AMC’s water production facilities but knew nothing about the synthetic atmosphere generators – that explains the vibrancy of the blast we heard and felt. The moon was in the process of being converted into a Micro Earth. If the process worked on the moon, we could then set our sights on colonizing Mars. Now all of that hangs in the balance as we wait for the dust to settle, as it were.

  The Life You Save

  “Look alive, men.” The Colonel called us all to attention. “I’d like to introduce you to Dr. Joel Brason. He is the lead scientist and developer of the Haven Project and will brief you on what you men will be facing down there. It won’t be pretty…”

  “Good morning, gentlemen. I have good news and bad news. The good news is that we believe that all 303 people aboard Lunar Base 127 survived. Our thermal scans show all life forms intact and there appears to be a good bit of movement.”

  “The bad news?” I inquired aloud, before my mind had a chance to catch up to my mouth.

  “The bad news is that we have made an interesting discovery regarding the LifeSeed technology. It appears that the unexpected detonation of the Haven warhead altered the structure of the viral bots. We don’t yet know the full extent of the effect this will have on the survivors.”

  “Could you take a guess?” By now I was annoyed at his vague pretense. I needed some straight answers.

  The Colonel interrupted: “That’s enough, Captain.”

  “It’s quite alright, Colonel,” the good doctor replied as he took off his glasses. He seemed like an honest guy and I could tell he knew more than he was sharing.

  “To be honest, Captain Xander, I have run a few simulations on the potential effects of this new virus – which I have tentatively named LYCCYX due to its possible symptoms and it’s appearance under a scanning electron microscope – it resembles a tiny wolf. I believe LYCCYX has the ability to alter the DNA of its host and literally morph the victim into the most extreme version of him or herself.”

  “Say what?” I asked.

  “LYCCYX could turn a man who has anger management issues into a hulking beast with uncontrollable rage.”

  “You mean like a werewolf?”

  “Well, sort of. More like a… caricature. For example, it may possess the power to transform an individual with greedy tendencies into an opportunistic, cunning monster bent on thievery. It apparently brings out the worst characteristics of its host.”

  This was all a bit more than I could handle. My heart was racing and my hands felt deathly cold; a sinking feeling of dread took hold of me. On the one hand, our friends did survive the explosion but what are they now? Are they even human? Can they be saved?

  “There is one more item you might consider good news.” Dr. Brason announced. “Before the Haven Project was ever implemented, we created a contingency plan in case the viral bots malfunctioned. We developed a compound called STRIPES – Stable Reconstructive Inoculant in a Protein Enhanced Solution. STRIPES works by destroying LYCCYX in the first three stages of infection, before the mutations go too far. Much like LYCCYX, it is also based on nanotechnology but instead of harming the host, it heals and has a number of positive benefits. LYCCYX infection consists of a total of four stages, marked by progressively increasing mutations. If we can deliver the antidote in any of the first three stages, the victim should recover completely. Additional doses of STRIPES will be necessary to undo the mutations done by LYCCYX.”

  “What about the fourth stage?” I asked.

  “We don’t really know for certain, Captain, but it appears that the changes become permanent and the victim is beyond assistance,” He answered solemnly.

  Dr. Brason made it clear – we had to get down there and administer the cure before it was too late. Though I knew there were women and children in need of the antidote, all I could think about was helping my best friend, John Stephan.

  No Place to Raise Your Kids

  Back on Lunar Base 127:

  “I have never felt so alive!” Stephan exclaimed as he leaned back and stretched while flexing his biceps. “Whatever happened during that blast was amazing! It was like a catalyst toward the next step in our evolution.”

  “We have a lot of work to do in order to get the manufacturing facilities back online, Lt Stephan.” Madras said.

  “Right you are, Sgt Madras. Or should I say Kent? Let’s do away with these silly titles.”

  “But… you… you’re still the highest ranking officer here, sir,” Madras replied with a slight twinge of disappointment.

  “You are absolutely right, Kent. In that case, rally the survivors – men, women, and children. I have an announcement to make at 1300.”

  “Yes, sir!” he complied.

  Reaching out

  “Captain, sensors detect a sudden spike in radio signal activity coming from LB127.” Dyas reported.

  “Acknowledged, Corporal Dyas – looks like the survivors have restored the communications equipment,” I replied. “Let’s hope that this is a good sign.”

  The plan was to give the inhabitants instructions before a team was deployed to LB127. It would be a massive effort to inoculate all 303 individuals aboard and would require full cooperation of the remaining personnel. We were now standing by aboard Water Production Facility 4 (WPF4), one of AMC’s satellite facilities that not only generated water from pulverized asteroid matter but also served as a great launching point for lunar landings.

  We sent the following message:

  To all base personnel and family members:

  It is with deepest regret and sincere urgency that we inform you that all individuals aboard Lunar Base 127 have been infected with an experimental virus called LYCCYX. Fortunately, we have an antidote available to every person affected, known as STRIPES. If left untreated, LYCCYX causes severe mutations and could be fatal. We will soon be dispatching a team of SEF Alpha troops to deliver the antidote. Please follow any and all instructions they give you in order to ensure that all infected individuals are treated in a timely manner.

  All UCM personnel aboard LB127 are hereby relieved of their military duties until a full medical examination can be performed. We advise extra rest and adequate nutrition to help slow the spread of LYCCYX.

  Very Respectfully,

  UCM Space Command

  A Declaration of Independence

  Main Meeting Hall, LB127:

  “Such arrogance! How dare they make such demands?!” Stephan growled.

  “Maybe they’re right, sir,” Madras said sheepishly. “Maybe we should all get some rest and wait for the SEF team.”

  With that, Stephan quickly turned around and grabbed Madras by the throat, lifting him off the floor.

  “Right?! Just like they were right when they were putting performance-enhancers in our food?”

  “We cannot trust the UCM; we
are the dominant species now! We are Hyans!” He snarled and then slung Madras to the floor.

  “Yessss… sir.” Madras gasped as he sat in a crumbled heap. “What… what is our next move?”

  “We’ll send them a message: our declaration of independence from Earth!” Stephan said triumphantly. His beastly voice echoed through the hall.

  Stephan and his troops made a very interesting discovery beneath LB127. Now that they were no longer under UCM protocol they broke into the top-secret subterranean labs located deep below the surface of the moon. AMC had been testing rapid cloning technology for years and had relocated their center of operations beneath LB127 to avoid the scrutiny of Earth’s human rights groups. They also pioneered BioHybrid technology (mechanically enhanced clones) with the intent to build a massive labor force for constructing additional facilities and weapons.

  John Stephan is not only a fierce warrior, but also possesses a genius-level IQ. Apparently he now chooses to use his cognitive abilities to serve his own purposes rather than the needs of the people he once swore to protect. He now refers to himself and the other occupants of LB127 as Hyans (a play on words – “high-ends” or “high-and-mighty”) because he is convinced that the “incident” – the explosion that exposed LB127 to LYCCYX, freed them from the limitations of being human and now they are the next step in the evolution of the human race.

  Stephan’s reply to the UCM directive:

  On behalf of the Hyan People of New Earth:

  We hereby declare our independence from The United Continents and Planet Earth. We have discovered a new and revolutionary way of life that has freed us from the limitations of living as weak human beings. Thanks to LYCCYX, we have embraced the next step in the evolution of man, that of the Hyan – a new race created by the Miraculous Catalyst that UCM is calling an accident.

  We extend the offer to join us to any humans of Earth who wish to become complete as we now are. Receive LYCCYX and experience the freedom we now enjoy. Additionally, let it be known to any who would oppose us that we are prepared for battle. We have discovered and activated the rapid cloning, BioHybrid, and weapons manufacturing facilities developed and hidden by the Asteroid Mining Corporation. We have also weaponized the remaining Haven warheads and are prepared to launch them toward Earth at a moment’s notice.

  Choose for yourselves, Earth-dwellers: remain on an overpopulated planet torn by war and politics as pathetic humans, or join us – the Hyans; as we progress toward higher levels of life and freedom. Together, we can cast off the restraints of tradition and government and pursue true freedom through science and technology thanks to our savior: LYCCYX.

  John Sebastian Stephan

  Chancellor of New Earth

  Leader of the Hyan People

  Freedom Reigns

  Disbelief and shock filled my psyche after reading John’s message. At the same time, it made sense. He was always suspicious of authority figures. It probably had to do with his overbearing, controlling oaf of a father. After years of putting up with his abuse, John’s mom left and took him and his brother, Todd, to the States (back when we were still called the United States of America – those were the good old days). John Stephan had a horrible excuse for a father, unlike my dad, who was and continues to be the best dad a guy could ever ask for. I thought back for a moment to all the times John was over at our house and how my folks sort of adopted him as part of our family. He often seemed to lack any sense of self-worth back then. I heard once that good fathers instill a sense of worth and a positive sense of pride in their kids. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to not have a good dad.

  My thoughts eventually took me back to the summer I worked for a man named Rodney Kratz. He was the worst boss I ever had. He constantly belittled and berated me in front of the other workers. To make matters worse, he never paid me the bonus he said he would when I first agreed to come to work for him. I endured his abuse month after month because I was saving up for a car. Finally, after eleven long months, I had had enough. I walked up to him one morning and told him I was quitting. He turned beet red; it was as if he had lost, as if he wished he could have found an excuse to fire me before I had the chance to fire him, but he couldn’t because I was a hard worker and followed his orders completely. Also, I had earned the respect of my coworkers and other supervisors. I bet he had a lot of explaining to do after I left, seeing as how I was viewed as a valuable part of the team by everyone else.

  My dad used to tell me that it was for the best that I had spent some time under such a harsh tyrant of a leader. He said that I had learned all the things not to do in leadership. He was right; my time at boot camp and at the Academy was a breeze all thanks to Kratz and his ridiculous ways. If I ever should happen to run into him someday, I will be sure to thank him.

  As I put on the gauntlets of my ShockSuit, I switched on the Energy Absorption System, or EAS, a technology developed by AMC that absorbs enemy fire and converts it to electrical energy and it occurred to me that nothing happens by chance. Everything – even pain and turmoil, happens for a reason.

  Embracing Death

  The mission was a go; we had been given the green light to infiltrate LB127. We would descend to the lunar surface using the revolutionary fusion propulsion technology built into our ShockSuits. We were to land on the Far Side, which was the side of the moon turned away from Earth and out of sight from AMC’s Orbiter and monitoring equipment, and sneak aboard LB127 via the underground labs. For all intents and purposes, our chance of success was nil. Stephan would obviously be expecting some attempt at a hostage rescue.

  Dyas, Baaz, and I were joined by four more Alpha troops: Lt. Ed Rikes, a medic; SSgt Bill Pope, a sniper; MSgt Mac Lawrence, an explosives technician; and TSgt Kip Green, part of signals intelligence. Our mission was to deliver the antidote to the LB127 population and capture or eliminate Stephan and any others who chose to side with him. Though I was prepared to execute my orders, I couldn’t shake the hope that perhaps he would listen to reason and that we could put a peaceful end to this and go home.

  The deep graphite gray of the moon’s mantle closed in as we inched toward the lunar surface. It was much like skydiving but in slow-motion. We touched down in a flurry of dust and I motioned to the men to move forward. Since we had to go silent (no radio transmissions) we would have to rely on hand signals to communicate for the time being.

  As we neared the entrance to the underground labs, I felt my heart pound through my temples. Did I have the courage to do what needed to be done if Stephan refused to surrender? I thought of Kate. She wanted to get married and start a family. That thought alone scared me more than the possibility of having to kill my best friend.

  Get it together, Xander! I chided myself.

  The team dug through the lunar grit until we reached the metallic hatch covering the opening to the labs. Lawrence and Baaz mounted a small breaching charge and we quickly backed away. A tiny shockwave later and we were able to descend into the deep blackness below.

  “That wasn’t so bad,” Baaz remarked. He seemed remarkably calm, as usual.

  “Right, Baaz: you and Green stand guard here and keep an eye on your sensors,” I said. “We can now communicate safely on the encrypted channel. The rest of you, follow me and set your Mk5’s to stun. We want to save as many lives as possible.”

  We slowly moved in unison down the dark and dusty corridors of the labs. Our ShockSuits were equipped with enhanced night vision with full-color capabilities but there was no color to be seen down here, just the dull metallic gray of oxidized aluminum. A faint electronic hum along with the distant clatter of machinery indicated we were getting close to the manufacturing facilities.

  “Alright, men – this is where we split up.” I said. “Pope, you come with me. I’ll need your support to engage Stephan and his men. Rikes, you and Lawrence try to locate the women and children and administer the antidote as soon as possible. We will rendezvous at the opening hatch in exactly two hours –
Godspeed, gentlemen.”

  SSgt Pope and I headed up a stairway past the cloning facility. Glowing green pods by the dozens filled the warehouse-sized room below. There was a stench that even our ShockSuit filtration systems couldn’t handle. We knew: this place was completely evil. I don’t know quite how to explain it, except to say it was as though we could feel hatred and malice in the atmosphere. We slowly crept past the clone room when I instructed Pope to activate cloak mode. We were now invisible to any and all forms of surveillance – optical and radio. We still had to tread lightly, as our footsteps could be heard on the metallic grates of the walkway.

  The clatter and buzz of machinery became louder as we approached the BioHybrid facility. Gasps and moans of agony began to fill the air. The Hyans were surgically implanting mechanized weaponry and tools into living creatures. The creatures did not appear human, but still I could not help but grieve for what was being done to them.

  We have to stop this madness! I thought to myself.

  I was beginning to feel the need for justice outweigh my desire to rehabilitate Stephan. I quietly switched my Mk5 to the kill setting.

  Pope and I had several canisters of STRIPES with us in the event we came across any victims infected with LYCCYX. I couldn’t help but wonder if STRIPES could help those poor creatures. Dr. Brason said it had several positive benefits. Nonetheless, I had a mission to complete: stop John Stephan.

  We neared what looked like a secure conference room. I disengaged my suit’s cloak in order to use my listening device.

  “Captain, you could be spotted!” Pope said.

  “At ease, Pope. Remain cloaked and watch the door.” I told him.

  “Stun or kill, sir?” he asked in reference to his Mk6 pulse sniper rifle.