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  And now, as we’re grown up, on the run from who knows what, I feel this is the time that my younger siblings need me the most. Some things don’t change. Tiago doesn’t physically bully my younger brothers and sisters anymore, but he isn’t going to take care of them either. It’s always been an every man for yourself mentality with that guy, family is no exception.

  When mother died, I was scared like all the others. I was too afraid to think on my own and Tiago was brave enough to react for all of us. But now, after Leonard’s death, and as I fear the worst for Lombardi, I’m not so sure if his leadership will lead us to the right path. He is far too selfish to care for us all. I’ve known this all my life. I need to speak up.

  One of them is dead, possibly two. Tiago’s orders are leading my brothers and sisters to their demise, and he goes about his business like we’re some kind of army. My brothers and sisters are not collateral damage, they are family, and family should take care of each other. Tiago is no general, so why is he acting like one?

  Tiago has already made another order without consulting me. When it reached 10:30, and we started to think something might have gone wrong, he told Ace to investigate the supply depot, check to see Lombardi’s status. Naturally, Ace went without hesitation, and while I don’t doubt that it’s a good idea to send our scout to actually scout something, they way he did it came off cold. He didn’t tell Ace to see if Lombardi was okay, he told Ace to see what was taking so long.

  I knew, the minute Lombardi volunteered, that Tiago was irritated. Just like when we were kids, Tiago still sees Lombardi as a weak link, someone not to be trusted with such a valuable task. But I had faith in Lombardi. It’s not right to keep everyone in the dark, and if he said he can do it, then damnit, he can.

  Tiago unwillingly sent Lombardi. He’s waiting to see when he will screw up so one of his guys can make the save.

  Worst of all, when he sent Lombardi on his task, he gave him a bomb. Is this what things have come to? Shoot first, ask later. Does he want our brother to be killed, to have a big target on his back? I tried to tell Lombardi not to take it, but he assured me that it wouldn’t be used. Then why have it at all?

  I believe when Tiago gave that bomb to Lombardi, he was setting him up for a fall.

  Suddenly, the front door of our hideout opens. Lombardi? No, it’s Ace, and he’s breathing heavily.

  “You’re back!” I say to Ace warmly. Even though he runs with Tiago, I’m still glad my brother is safe.

  “Did you find him?” Tiago asks Ace.

  “Yes,” Ace says.

  “And?”

  “He’s dead.”

  I feel like someone has punched me in the gut. It’s the same thing I felt when Ace told us Leonard had died. Another one of my family members is gone. The times when we were young, under mother’s roof, flashes before my eyes. It seems like only yesterday, we were carefree children. I’ve failed to protect another one.

  “What happened?” Tiago asks.

  “I don’t know. I got there and saw a group of animals snooping, United Species Alliance vehicles parked all around the depot. The building looked like it had gone through some damage. There was a cloud of smoke and dust hovering above it. I carefully snuck into the building and I hid in the vents and observed. Those animals were putting something in a body bag, and it had a hand sticking out from it which had feathers…”

  All of us are silent, but I can’t stay silent anymore.

  “This is your fault,” I say to Tiago.

  “What?” he says immediately, voice raised with a hint of anger.

  “This is your fault. Didn’t you hear what Ace said? The building had a cloud of smoke over it. Your bomb probably went off. You sent him to his death when you made him take it.”

  Alex inches closer to me as I make my accusation, but Tiago puts his hand in front of him, holding him back.

  “Don’t throw out accusations at me, brother. Lombardi knew the risks when he volunteered to go. We all knew the dangers. I gave him that bomb in case there was someone in his way and it looks like there was. It probably would’ve happened with or without the explosive.”

  His callousness surprises even me. “Are you listening to yourself? How could you brush off our brother’s death like that? You act as if it’s expected. Do you even care about any of us?”

  He grimaces his face toward me. “How dare you say that! Don’t even question my love for my family. Everything I’ve done, every instruction, every plan, every move that I’ve made was for this family!”

  “Then why are you so hardened? Does Lombardi’s death mean nothing to you? Why are you so unrelenting in your pursuit?”

  “Because we don’t have the time to relent. Two of us are dead and it’s because of them, these agents of the United Species Alliance! They’re after us, they’re moving in for the quick kill. If we don’t act fast, there’s going to be more of us to mourn over.”

  “Two of us are dead because of your plans. Leonard would have never left us if we had given him the time he needed. Lombardi would still be alive if you hadn’t given him that bomb.”

  “Oh really? Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t it you who vouched for him? You’re the one who sent him on the suicide mission when I wanted someone capable like Ace.”

  “I sent him to get us supplies, not bomb it.”

  “Stop it both of you!” Iris tells us. “This is getting us nowhere. You can fight later, but for now we need to consider what’s going on. Leonard and Lombardi are gone, and we don’t have anything to sustain us.”

  “Uh, actually…” Ace says meekly. He takes his backpack off his shoulders and reaches in. He pulls an insta-item out and some packs of food.

  “Unbelievable,” I say to myself. “You sent Ace to get supplies, didn’t you?”

  “No,” Ace says hastily, “I got these myself after the Alliance was gone. Tiago didn’t tell me to get anything.”

  “Liar!” I yell. “Stop covering for your hero.”

  “Shut up, Oscar,” Tiago says. “I didn’t tell Ace anything, but at least we have what we need to make it to Moon.”

  “The Moon, that’s the only thing you care about. You want to be as far away from home as possible and it doesn’t matter who goes down in the process. You’re not a brother, you’re a dictator. And I’m done taking orders from you.”

  “What are you saying, brother?” Tiago says.

  “What I’m saying is I’m not going to follow you into the slaughter. Your quest to get out of here is going to leave a lot of bodies and I won’t be one of them.”

  He shrugs off my threat. “Fine, but you’ll be on your own.”

  “No, he won’t,” a voice says behind me. It’s Maddie. “I’ll follow you wherever you go and I’ll be able to find us shelter until you figure out what we should do next. I’m sorry Tiago, but I’m not ready to leave so quickly, not after all that’s happened.”

  I look at her with a nod. “Thank you.”

  “Fine, take her. Anyone else? Anyone?” Tiago asks skeptically. No one responds. “Just as I…”

  “We’re leaving, too,” a voice says. It’s Isaac who speaks and Iris follows behind him. I’m actually shocked that it’s them and Tiago looks just as stunned.

  “Brother, sister, why? You know you two will always have a place with us,” he says.

  Isaac takes a moment to speak. He looks at me and Maddie, and then he looks at Tiago and the others. “I’m sorry, brother, but if we go with you, we’re going to die. I feel it. I can’t follow you on your path to destruction.”

  The words break Tiago’s emotional wall like a battering ram through a castle gate. He has always liked both the twins. He believes there’s something extraordinary about them, and their rejection hits him hard.

  “And you, too, Iris?” Tiago asks her.

  “Yes. You know I go where my brother goes,” she says.

  His face changes from a stupefied stare to a dark glare. “If that’s what you two want, then
so be it. We don’t need you anyway.”

  He raises his arm and points to the exit.

  “All of you, get out of here, you’re not welcome anymore,” he says.

  “But where will they go?” Candy asks in a concerned tone.

  “There’s another abandoned building near here,” Maddie says. “It used to be a casino, the Spades and Diamonds Casino, but I don’t think it’s been in business for quite some time, at least a year. I used to sneak out there, they have a lot of neat things, even if it is dusty and abandoned, I think we can hide there until you figure out what we should do next, Oscar.”

  I look at Maddie, and nod supportively. “Sounds good, Maddie. I guess that’s where we’ll be heading.”

  The four of us make our rounds and offer our goodbyes to the rest of the family. Some of them, like Candy and Ace greet our farewells warmly. Alex doesn’t shake my hand when I offer it to him. Curtis gives a curt nod to me and I nod back.

  I then walk up to Tiago and look at him eye to eye. He doesn’t move a muscle and glowers straight back at me.

  “I guess this is good bye then,” I say. I offer my hand out as we continue our stare down. He holds his stance and doesn’t move an inch.

  “I guess so,” he says. “Good luck to you.”

  “You too, brother.”

  We gather our things and walk to the exit. I take one quick glance behind me and look at the brothers and sister I leave behind. No one sees it, but a small tear rolls down my eye.

  If only we could have stayed a family.

  Chapter 11 – Iris Lawton - Origin

  November 16, 3040 10:55 PM

  We walk in the darkness and remain quiet as we follow Maddie’s lead. I think about why we’re on the run in the first place.

  Our mother didn’t teach us much when we were younger, but she made sure we learned two things: history and why we were different. I’m not sure if the others paid attention, or if they had any fascination about animal history, but I sure did.

  We are half human, half something else. In the eyes of the leaders of the world, we shouldn’t exist. They can’t decide what we are - abominations, the next step of evolution, or a new species.

  All of the animals have something to fear about us, but as I think about it, I suppose the humans have the most to lose. They have co-existed with intelligent species for some time, dividing land and power among themselves. And I think we represent the threat of a new power, one that would ruin what little balance exists. I suppose that’s why whoever is in charge needs to kill us. They fear that we would join the fight for power and there’s no more room for sharing.

  There was a time when nothing was shared, when the one and only ruler of the Earth were the humans.

  In the early twenty third century, humans had reached the pinnacle of their development. They had doubled their lifespan. The technological advances of teleportation and terraforming were going into full swing. Artificial resources were being perfected, lowering starvation, crime, and poverty on a global scale. Cities were becoming larger and more decadent. They flourished in ways they only dreamed of a few hundred years before that.

  More importantly, they had achieved something that had eluded them for a long time - a lasting peace. Humans had united on a worldwide front. Political arguing and threats of war were non-existent. Countries worked together more than ever before, seeing each other not as people of different colors and customs, but as one in the same: a member of the human race. A universal language had formed and it broke down any barriers that existed. They were no longer a species divided among nations, but a species unified under one front.

  And thus, many of the arms were disassembled. All their weapons of mass destruction were put out of commission. They used to have fears that a nuclear war would end the world, but there was no need to worry about that anymore. The minutes to midnight were gone.

  Yet, they still had problems. Earth was becoming more and more toxic by the pollution that ravaged it. Thus they made powerful initiatives to clean up their planet, spending all their assets on this goal.

  With a flurry of resources and manpower, humans were able to restore much of the environment that they had destroyed within a few decades. Technological advances reduced the waste that previous generations built up. Non-pollutant energy sources were the only forms of power. Lost habitats were regrown thanks to advanced aging techniques. The ozone layer was strengthened thanks to chemical experiments that fortified it. Since they didn’t have their conflicts to distract them, humans could focus on cleaning up the mess they made.

  By the mid twenty third century, the planet had blossomed back to its environmental prime, owing its bloom to the ingenuity of human beings. It was these methods that allowed the humans to terraform the Moon much quicker than they had estimated, and it was these methods that restored the Earth to its peak condition. Mother Nature was easy to fix because it lacked its own will. The creatures they shared the Earth with were a different story.

  More animals were on the endangered list than ever before. Whole groups of species, not just specific breeds or subsets, were on the verge of disappearing from the Earth. Gorillas, rhinos, crocodiles, and lions were a few on the short list that faced extinction if the humans did not act fast.

  This was unacceptable to them. They had conquered their environmental issue, it was now time for them to take on the task of getting these animals off the endangered list.

  There was a problem, though - the creatures weren’t breeding. Gorillas, rhinos, crocodiles, lions, and a bevy of other endangered animals didn’t know how few of them were left. How could they? Thus, they had no reason to procreate at a rapid pace.

  Scientists, biologists, and zoologists tried everything to get these animals to breed. They tried artificial pheromones that supposedly increased their reproductive drive, but it was unsuccessful. They tried studying mating patterns and applied all their understanding of different animal customs in hopes that they would repopulate their kind, but that also failed. They even tried cloning techniques, but experts recognized it was a behavioral issue and that cloning would only be a crutch if the drive wasn’t there to procreate.

  There were many theories as to why these endangered species were breeding less and less. Some say that years and years of being exposed to the pollutants in the air caused shifts in hormonal development, thus reducing their drive to copulate. Others say that since the world around them changed so much, from the advances of humans, they were overwhelmed and didn’t reproduce. Some think they just gave up their fight to exist.

  Whatever the case, both the humans and the animals were on the edge. Then a breakthrough initiative was made by the powers that be. In most circles, it was believed that the problem was a behavioral issue, so what if you change the way animals behave with a boost of intelligence? When a creature is aware of the danger they are in, they react. The problem was that these endangered species didn’t know they were in danger, but if you made them understand their situation, they would proactively do something. A bit of intelligence would give the animals this drive. Let the animals know they needed to make offspring or it could be the end of their kind.

  Naturally, this caused a load of controversy among humans. People were worried it would lead to the downfall of their kind. Humans got to where they were because of their intelligence, if you give it to other animals what would stop them from becoming the rulers of the world? From the way things are today, their fears were justified.

  Others didn’t know if such an outrageous plan was necessary. If these animals couldn’t do it on their own, maybe it was nature’s way of letting them go. Was destroying the balance worth it if extinction was part of the plan anyway?

  Yet, a typical human trait was confidence and, at the time, they had an over-abundance of it. They had cured most diseases, brought peace among themselves, and restored the environment to its former glory. They believed what they were doing was good and their accomplishments backed up their claim. Leading ani
mals to extinction was not something they were going to allow.

  They also thought they had things under control. Their intention was not to make animals super intelligent, but intelligent enough for their cause. They would still be primitive in nature, still rely on their survival instincts, and would lack any true knowledge, or so they hypothesized.

  The leaders assured the world there would be no threat to humanity. Never in a million years did the humans see an Earth where animals would be speaking their language, engaging in their government, and be seen as their equals.

  Riding on their earlier success, they overlooked any possible risks and went forward with the plan. It took some time to unlock the properties of intelligence boosting, but after twenty years or so of research, they were ready to begin testing. By the year 2285, The Ark Project began its mission to slightly raise the intelligence of endangered species and have them repopulate the Earth.

  The first Ark Project was dedicated for testing only, picking animals that were in no real threat of dying. They chose five groups of species, four of them, dogs, cats, pigs, and cows, were domesticated animals. These animals were chosen because they already had above average intelligence and were easy to obtain. The other species they tested was a chimp. Though not as tamed as the others, their mental acumen was something that was sought after.

  The first Ark Project was intensive with many tests and developments. And throughout all the trials they conducted, the people on the Ark Project noticed that progress was being made. Animals were being brought in by the thousands. The dogs and cats responded and learned commands much faster than their untested counterparts. The same went for the other animals as well.

  The animals showed no sign of super intelligence at first. They adapted and figured things out impressively, but they weren’t even close to being as smart as the dumbest humans on Earth. The results were still remarkable, though. Scientists studied these animals and put their brains to the test. Eventually, they were able to train animals to do advanced things, including breeding.