Rebirth in the Apocalypse: Third Time's a Charm

I closed my eyes because this is where shit went downhill fast. "The retrovirus was the worst thing that they could have done. Men and women with animal DNA in them? Sure, very doable… but adding something that can be passed through blood and bodily fluid, from mother to infant and from husband to wife is a little much."

I took another sip of my coffee, only to realize that at some point in time, someone had changed out my giant cup of coffee for a hot one.

"I hope you didn't waste that," I said, not looking up from my cup. "In under a year, there won't be any more coffee in Country K."

"So, a retrovirus that degenerates genes. Does anyone in the class want to take a guess at what genes got broken down first? That's right, the human genes." I sighed and wondered how I could explain this.

"The retrovirus weakened the genes of the volunteers, leaving the four genes of the aquatic creatures to take over. The result is what we called a zombie. But it wasn't like any zombie anyone had ever seen or imagined." I closed my eyes and pictured them.

"Their skin was either a light blue, a light purple, or some color in between. It was believed that the shark genes had taken over that aspect. Their teeth were elongated and sharp, and their nails turned into sharp points with a serrated edge to them as well. The shark DNA also provided them with an unlimited number of teeth, so, you know, they would never have to take a break from hunting. The mako genes increased their intelligence and speed, and of course, the two types of sharks give them an extra burst of aggression." I took a breath, not wanting to look at the two men.

"The hydra and starfish had made them completely immune to any weapon. Hack off a limb and you just created a second zombie, hack it to pieces and you have just created its own horde. But that was not the only way that zombies could be created. They could decide who they would eat and who would be an asset to their horde. A simple blood exchange would turn any human into a zombie."

"Any questions?" I asked, now taking the chance to look at Liu Wei

"What about my glasses?" he asked, looking back at me.

"Sharks not only need contrast to be able to find prey, but any type of metallic shine would also attract them. Something about it looking like fish scales in the sunlight."

Liu Wei nodded his head and we both turned to Wang Chao, seeing where he stood on everything.

"If that is what is happening in Country M, then why does Country K want to follow them?" Wang Chao asked the million-dollar question.

"Because they don't know what is actually going on. They just know what Country M is releasing, and invincible super soldiers seem like a great idea. They have no idea that it is creating a zombie."

"What about the vaccine?"

"The vaccine is in fact, the gene enhancer. Country M and K are both seeing if they can turn the average person into a soldier. It would expand their armies by infinite numbers."

"So, everyone that gets the vaccine will become a zombie? I will make sure to tell Grandfather not to let any of our men take it."

"Not at all," I said, surprising them. "Make sure that all of your men get the vaccine, but as soon as they receive it, have them locked in separate rooms until 48 hours have passed."

"I don't understand," said Wang Chao. "You said that it was the vaccine that is creating the zombies."

"Yes, the vaccine is responsible for creating the zombies, but it doesn't only create them." This was the biggest secret that the scientist told me. "Every person will be infected with the retrovirus within the next three years, but there are four outcomes of the virus. The first is that some people become zombies, I just told you all about them. The second outcome is those people that are asymptomatic; meaning they have the ability to create zombies but don't show any symptoms. They are the most dangerous because they could look and act perfectly normal, but will produce a zombie offspring, or their husband or wife might turn into a zombie after a night of passion. They will become the most hated section of the population because they are the most unknown."

Another sip of coffee and I am ready to continue; "The third group is made up of those that call themselves the power users. They have had a dormant gene in them, that when exposed to the retrovirus, gave them a power of some kind or other. I can go into that later because it will take a long time to explain. The fourth a final path of humanity is the normals; those that had a superpower but decided to not use it and eventually lost it."

"What do you mean by that?" Asked Liu Wei, clearly confused.

I opened my right hand and my pink fame erupted onto it, startling both Wang Chao and Liu Wei. "One's power is a lot like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger you become. But if you were to ignore it…" I closed my fist, extinguishing the pink flame. "You will lose it."

"So the best way to become powerful is to use it as much as you can, to constantly train," said Wang Chao, staring at my hand. Leave it to him to figure out that the power needs to be trained and exercised. The man looked like he never missed a day in the gym.

"Exactly," I said, this time I filled the table with sweets from my space.

"Have you had the vaccine?" Asked Liu Wie, reaching out to grab a cookie.

"No," I replied picking up a lemon square. "The vaccines will start October 1st here and it will take 31 days to supply each and every individual with a dose."

"What about those that don't want the vaccine?" Asked Wang Chao, his attention on me and not the desserts.

"People have a choice in the matter?" I asked, not saying anything one way or the other.

"Then what about November 1st?"

"November 1st at 5:00 pm our Country, and perhaps the world, is struck with an EMP. Whether it was an act of war or the result of a solar flare no one knows, but the result is the same. Everything electronic dies and our world as we know it is plunged into the Dark Ages, complete with a predator with a taste for humans. Any other questions?" I asked, waiting for them to say no and leave.

"Yes, just one more," said Wang Chao, his black eyes staring deep into mine like he wanted to see my very soul. "How do you know all this?"