Biomorph

Karl Albrecht looked up from his desk, and stretched. It had been almost 10 years since these videos had been released to the world, and Biomorph had left Earth.

After that happened, all the subjects were given citizenship, and all personnel involved in the project were given the choice between a transfer to another project, or an honorable discharge from the army. He had chosen the latter, partly for the peace of mind, and partly for the universal credit plan that paid enough into his account that he could live comfortably with his family without working.

Karl felt the tips of his mouth curling upward as he recalled the way that Beta 42 had grown and evolved as a person. Nothing made him prouder than thinking back on the ex-subjects, and seeing how they had left a lasting legacy that wasn’t anything to do with war.

For example, Beta 43 had taken up a courier job, and was also a competitor in the Olympics, which had shifted towards powered individuals decades ago, when powers first came about. She had won gold twice, and was preparing to win it again in two years time.

Beta 15 had taken a job that surprised everyone, and became a chef. His dishes were the best in the city, which led to his restaurant becoming the social centre of the city.

Karl shook his head again, and walked into the kitchen to pour himself a glass of a smoothie he had made earlier. Now he had nothing to do all day, he had started paying more attention to other options for food and drink than the standard ration packs he had typically eaten everywhere.

As he sat down again, glass in hand, the doorbell chimed, and the screen in front of his switched to displaying a video of his daughter standing outside, holding another carrier bag.

Ayla had started her own company with her friends, and was rivalling S&R inc. in total rescues performed, whilst also having just as many captures as the leading capture agency.

“Dad? You gonna open this door, or are you just going to stand there daydreaming?”

Karl shook his head, for the second time in as many minutes, and walked to the door, glancing at the pictures that decorated his walls as he did so.

He stopped at one in particular, and tilted the frame up to get a closer look. It held two pictures: one of the Alpha series of Sigma Potens when they were around 5, and one of the Beta series at the same age.

Looking between the pictures, Karl noticed some interesting things he had somehow missed before.

Beta 42 looked very different to how Alpha 42 had at that age. The hair was a different colour, and the Beta 42 had paler skin.

Very interesting. Was this by choice, or by a mistake in Beta 42′s DNA?

“Dad, twelve years could have passed in the time it took you to open the door!”

Karl grinned somewhat sheepishly as he finally let his daughter into his apartment.

“I’m sorry Ayla, I just got caught up in a train of thought...” Karl’s statement trailed off as he Ayla put the bag on the table, and drew a scorched, metallic cylinder out of it.

It was roughly thirty centimeters in length, had a radius of 15 cm, and seemed to be completely unscathed , other than the cosmetic damage to the surface.

“What is that?”

“This is why I’m here.” Ayla stated.

“It was found in the middle of the Desert just outside the city. Since you are the second foremost expert on the Sigma Potens project, the Government wants you to take a look at this first. Did Josh make this? And if so, why?”

Karl placed his hand on the cylinder, and froze. The cylinder just pulsed.

He snatched his hand back, and turned to see Ayla had wide eyes.

“It didn’t do that for me...” Ayla whispered.

“Get me a meeting with Mishkin, and the heads of S&R inc. , as soon as you can.” Karl stood up, and ran to pull his coat on.

“Why did it do that?” Ayla asked as she rang the Professor’s number.

“DNA locked. If it did that when I touched it, one of those three is the key to unlock it.” Karl stated as he rushed out the door.

“Have them meet me in the town hall’s private conference room in the next hour. Bring the cylinder.”

Professor Mishkin, Overclock, and Pyromancer were all gathered in the conference room, and jumped when Mr Albrecht and Aphrodite barreled through the doors, and placed the cylinder on the table.

Mishkin was the first to get over his initial shock, and he squinted at the cylinder as his brow furrowed, and he rested his head on his hands.

“This is the cylinder?”

“Yes.” stated Mr Albrecht, and turned to the younger men around the table.

“You all need to touch the cylinder, to see its reaction. You two first please.”

Glancing at each other, Pyromancer both reached out and touched the cylinder at the same time.

The cylinder rippled, and both of them yanked their arms away as the cylinder morphed into a device, consisting of a screen, and two handles.

Mishkin raised his eyebrows at this, and picked up the device by its handles.

“Fascinating. Lightweight, self powered, and Biological in origin, if I’m not mistaken.” Mishkin smiled. “That’s my Beta 42. Always creating new things, or acting on new ideas.”

Upon hearing his voice, the screen switched on, and a two buttons appeared on the handles, near where the professors thumbs were. One had a picture of two screens on it, one had a triangle pointing to the right.

“Lets try this one first.” Mishkin stated as he pressed the first button. Instantly, the device issued forth an ascending tone, and when it had disappeared from human hearing, a small notification popped up on the top of the screen that read: Preparations ready. Press play to broadcast.

Mishkin looked up, and saw Mr Albrecht nod his head. So, Mishkin pushed the second button.

On every screen that could be found in the vicinity of that city and its suburbs, a familiar face popped onto the screen, interrupting what ever had been on it beforehand.

The people of the city stopped, and stared at the face. Even Beta 43 stopped running to get a better look.

When the face spoke though, she took off again, holding back her tears of relief.

By the time she had run the length of the street, and turned the corner, everyone else was reacting to the sentences that had made her react like that:

"Greetings, Humans. Do you mind if I drop by to pick up something I left behind?"

As Beta 43 reached the conference room, the door opened, and so she stopped. When she saw professor Mishkin inside, she ran over to him, and hugged him tight.

"My brother's alive..."