Genetic Alchemy: The Endless Rise of the Norm

Setting: Earth, 2075

After the world war-IV which is the nuclear conflux between west and middle east reshaped the landscape of the Earth. With minimal resources and radiations levels dangerously high, the humanity reaches on the brink of extinction. In desperation to save the humanity, a group of bioengineers and geneticists known as "Elysium egos" decided to create a new breed of human.

With the help of advanced genetic engineering techniques, CRISPR and other gene-editing technologies they decided to modify the DNA of human. After a series of radical genetic modifications, they succeed in developing a new species known as "Homo Aeternus". These bring possesses a remarkable array of supernatural abilities, like Photosynthesis mechanism, enhanced strength, rapid regeneration, enhanced senses, toxic resistance, environmental adaption and cognitive function.

Yet, this miraculous transformation cast shadows over those who are left behind commonly known as norms. The only 1% of humanity which remains unmodified and are labeled as the failures of the Elysium project and I am Zelo, one of the members of this small community who failed to undergo the necessary genetic enhancements whose existence is a daily struggle for survival.

“Zelo, lunch is ready!” Selery’s voice echoed from the kitchen, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Yeah, coming!” I called back, setting aside the magazine I had been reading and slipped on my blue t-shirt which was the last birthday gift from Selery. I ran my fingers through my messy hair before stepping from my cramped room which barely fits a bed and a chair.

In the kitchen, I saw Selery sitting at the table with steaming bowl of soup which resembled mostly water, with just a hint of meat and a loaf of stale bread beside it. This was the fate of the Norms, surviving on scraps and living like ants who could be crushed at any moment.

From the moment a child’s status as a Norm is revealed, they are abandoned by their family and casted aside like broken toys. My fate was no different, After I was discovered as a Norm at the age of ten, I was thrown onto the streets by my family and left alone to fend for myself. I wandered the streets alone, consumed by hunger, until I stumbled upon Selery.

Why she chose to save me, I’ll never know. Perhaps it was pity, or maybe she saw a reflection of herself in me. I watched her struggle tirelessly for years, searching for a way to secure a better life for us both. Despite her own hardships and the constant threat of hunger. She never let me go to bed with an empty stomach. I still remember how often she sacrificed her own meals to ensure I had enough to eat. To me, she was my everything—a mother who nurtured me, a father who protected me and a teacher who guided me through the darkness.

I took a seat beside her and glanced at Selery. Her short, curly brown hair framed her face, hides her beautiful features. My eyes drawn to her slender, snow-white fingers, which were covered in bandages.

“It doesn’t hurt,” she said, noticing my gaze.

“That’s good.” I picked up a loaf of bread and took a big bite.

“It’s tasty,” I said, with my mouth full.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full!” Selery scolded.

I nodded, still chuckling at her fussiness, but my eyes wandered back to her wound. They were a painful reminder of the price we paid just for this watery soup and stale loaf of bread.

Three years ago, Selery and I found a foothold in an organization that operates in the shadows. They call themselves "The Veil". It wasn’t by choice that we joined, but in a world where Norms are treated like ghosts, there weren’t any options. We were starving, desperate, and The Veil offered something no one else would - survival.

The Veil isn’t just any group but an organization who carries the dirty work for the Homo Aeternus, the powerful and modified humans who now rule the remnants of society. From smuggling illegal goods to the tasks that are too dangerous or too vile for the Homo Aeternus to dirty their hands with. And they use people like us—Norms—as their tools.

It’s not a glamorous life. The work is brutal, dangerous, and dehumanizing, but The Veil gives us what we need. They provide food, shelter, and a level of protection we could never find on our own. While most Norms scrape by on the crumbs of society, we have access to more than just leftovers. It’s not much, but it’s better than starving on the streets or being crushed like fly's. So, we keep working. It’s a brutal existence, but in this world, it’s the only one we have.

“What’s today’s plan?” I asked while gulping down the last of the watery soup that barely had any flavor to call food.

Selery looked up to me, I could her eyes sparkling with excitement, and she replied to me with a wide smile breaking across her face.

“We have a big client this time,”

I raised my eye browns in curiosity, "Big client? How big?"

“The client is willing to pay us a big bag just to retrieve an item from a lab which is run by a Norm couple. Easy work, right?”

“Why on Earth would someone want to steal from Norms? What could possibly be worth taking?"

Selery just shrugged and she stepped closer to me. Dropping her voice in whisper she drops a bombshell on me.

“And you know what who the client? The current CEO of Elysium ecos.”

“What?” the word burst loudly out of my mouth. My heart started racing in a mixture of shock and confusion. This is the grandson of the founders who created Homo Aeternus. Why would someone who could have anything with his ultimate powers hiring an illegal organization like ours to snatch something from Norms?

“He could definitely buy whatever he needs. Why resort to stealing?” I muttered, still trying to process the information inside my head.

Selery replied with somber voice. “This isn’t the first time those Homo Aeternus have used us. We have always done their dirty work, and you know our only goal is survival. This job could be our ticket out of Leftorif.”

But…

“Stop hesitating and get dressed. We’re leaving with Jack in thirty minutes,”

Before I could argue she left towards her room leaving me to grapple with my conflicted feelings. I tried to convince myself that Selery was right. We had done so much dirty work for those in power, and we needed the money to move somewhere safe. Even though the thought of stealing from Norms left a bitter taste in my mouth, I still decided to trust Selery. Then why the chilling body of Selery lying in front of me.