Ghouls
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October 1st, 2077. I am awake, barely. It is hard to believe the pressure and expectations *they* have for us. I put on my Fedora and grab my coat, heading to work. I hope to God the monorail isn't late again. You would think that after a hundred years, primitive machines would run perfectly. "There's no reason you should be late" is something that I am tired of hearing. If only we had the fuel to spare, I could drive my fucking Highwayman to work every day! It smells like it again...death, in the air. As I look up into the rising sun, I can feel it again. The anxiety of a new world, the fears of tomorrow. The great science that is failing us: the Great War soon to come. It's hard to believe that it's been almost eleven years since the Chinese first invaded Alaska, but things aren't looking well. With the rise of nuclear warfare as a common denominator in modern warfare, and the great technology of Plasma and Laser weaponry, there is little hope for peace. It's hard to believe... it's just hard to believe. A hundred and fifty years ago, the world saw the fall of Hitler and a new paradigm to study: World Wars. But how little we knew of the future, how little we cared about life...
It's October 1st, the first day of the month, and coming on strong to my fall. I can't even look at myself in the mirror anymore, the things that I have done! The things that I will do! There is nothing worse than doing the job you hate, but none the less, a job that must be done. In Oregon, I am a scientist, a greatly trained soldier for this... fine country. But it wasn't always so. It is almost like waking up from a bad dream, "Corporal, you have been reassigned. No more fiddling with peace, bio-chemical warfare cures, or the counting of supplies." No, that was too much to ask for; the chance at rebuilding and fixing our stupid mistakes. Now I am assigned to studying Brain Bots, and providing "security for the research floor." "Would you like to volunteer" asked one of the scientists, fuck no I replied. You and your whole goddamn team of miscreants can literally go fuck yourselves. There was no way I was going to "volunteer" my brain for surgery, or the false sense of security.
Anderson, I said as I walked calmly into the military base, what's the news?
"Brain Bots are going well", he says. "Plenty of volunteers" Something I just couldn't believe, who the hell would volunteer to having their brains removed? I asked him suspiciously, but reasonable and with a... trusting, sarcastic and lying tone. We lied to them? About... the safety... in all of this? "Of course" he says. "The base has been using "military volunteers" for weeks, prisoners are cheaper than recruits." who's idea was this? You know I never approved of scooping out prisoner brains for Brain Bots! Now we're using the rejects for experimenting? Who fucking approved this! "Spindel," he says, clearly too afraid to lie to me again. I take him by the neck and ask him gently, does it make you feel better? For God's sakes Anderson, we used to be soldiers! Don't you remember what it was like to be the governments bitch?!
Where the fuck is Spindel?! What kind of man authorises this?! "He's... He's in his office! Down by Mariposa, testing the new products." What new products? What are they doing down there? How come no one asked me directly! I am the leading scientist and security expert for this fucking place! How come I don't have a say in what we do with our prisoners! For fuck's sake Anderson! You'd better tell me before it's too goddamn late! "I don't know!" screams Anderson, "not even my own men were informed. We just deliver the test subjects and monitor their vitals! I really don't know what they’re doing down there! Honest!." I punched him repeatedly, until he screamed "Court martial! Court martial!" Shut up Anderson, twenty years from now when you have died, you will be burning in Hell remembering the lives you just threw away.
Spindel! Come in Spindel! This is *Radio Static* report! I repeat, this is *Radio Static* what the hell are you doing down there with those prisoners?! You will respond or I will come down there and find out for myself. Just because you’re in command it doesn't give you the right to break protocol"
"I highly advise you to regret what you have just said. Our research is not only vital for the survival of mankind and the human force, but is key to reigning victorious over the Chinese. There is a reason why Anderson was assigned control over human testing, and you not informed."
Have you forgotten what damage the FEV has already caused?
"Have YOU forgotten the reason why they made you create it? Ringhold! You must see it my way, without proper super soldiers how can we conquer the world?!"
This isn't about power; it's about the human race. Do you want to see our fucking home turn into a radiated wasteland? The only way we can stop the war is by finding a way to work together. If we can't find a substitute for fossil fuel the whole world is fucked! Fuck power, or money! None of our fucking luxuries will matter soon! Everything you've ever wanted will be gone. Do you hear me Spindel? Gone! In a cloud of nuclear dust!
"You truly are an idiot if you think the Chinese will ever listen to reason. I was also there when you bought your Vault ticket..."
Don't you fucking say that to me! I spent my entire fortune trying to buy as many of those tickets as possible! I don't even have a single piece of Vault-Tec crap left! Or a goddamn penny for Rotgut! Do you think I'm happy that our country can't let go of ancient Hitler ideas?
"I think that you should come down here, and see exactly what we have done. It is an amazing thing Ringhold, it is truly an amazing thing... What my eyes have seen with your creation...The FEV is working so well!" It was suppose to evolve us for the better Spindel. Forced Evolutionary Virus means to expand ourselves, make us evolve! Not turn us into monsters, what the hell did you do with my baby!
"Come see Ringhold, come see indeed. *Click*"
Anderson, you’re coming with me, dead or alive. I need your hand to get me into Mariposa.
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October 4th, 2077. It was a three days travel from the lab to Mariposa due to the crowds and traffic. I've never seen so many people dependant on fuel to the point that they are wasting their last gallons, lining up on the highways to try to buy the next available Vault ticket. I had to lock the doors and tie up Anderson when I slept, it was that bad. If he somehow managed to run away, I would never get into Mariposa. I would even have to leave his car behind and chase him through an endless wave of mouldy, stained trees. So I did the unthinkable... they would court martial and execute me for this... but I kidnapped Anderson at gun point. I put my plasma pistol to his throat and asked him VERY nicely; if you want to save the world, do everything that I say.
We got out of the car and walked towards the Mariposa entrance, crowded with would-be soldiers and rambling scientists, endlessly running in and out of the building. Some carrying strange boxes, others carrying what appeared to be occupied body bags. There was an off scent of Formaldehyde in the air. Some of the soldiers questioned us as we walked in, but Anderson played along and insisted that I was to be granted access to the facility. They couldn't refuse him. As we ascended upwards towards the very belly of the beast, my anxiety kicked in. All my fears were realized as I walked into Spindel's lab, he was submerging deserters into vats of what appeared to be the FEV. But it wasn't the FEV I created, it was much worse. One by one, I watched the bodies of these men and women slowly shape, and shift into monstrous forms. Their very skulls enlarged along with their muscles, as their skin would slowly begin to turn gray. Damnit Spindel! What the hell did you do with my creation?!
"Ringhold, greetings. Come and take a closer look at what your FEV has created."
I walked beside him, listening. Not knowing what to say or feel, I simply followed Spindel closely, contemplating killing him or listening to his story. Anderson silently waiting for me to order him around. What exactly are you doing with my FEV?
"I'm making us better damnit! We took the FEV and made it stimulate the human immune system, instead of their minds! The Chinese are going to use biological warfare against us, and the only way to protect ourselves is by developing a cure to prevent all decease in general!"
Who told you this bullshit that you are developing a cure to all decease? Injecting military prisoners with my virus is only going to turn them into violent, retarded monsters! It's not designed to affect the immune system, or man's muscle mass! It's designed to only affect their minds! Make them smarter! Not turn them into monsters!
"Nonsense, soon in a matter of moments we will have a perfect specimen to display. Anderson, how long until she is ready?"
"She should be ready to immerge anytime now"
Anderson you son of a bitch, I knew you couldn't resist making a Frankenstein, you fucking Nazi.
"Now, now, children. The time has come, prepare to feast your eyes on this beauty! *Spindel's jaw dropped* Wha... what the fuck is this?! Where is my beautiful Salina! Tell me! Coburn! What the fuck happened to my Salina!
Spindel grabbed one of his lab technicians and began freaking out on her desperately trying to find answers. I stopped him, and remembered telling him that he was lied to. Spindel wasn't actually working on a new immunity booster, or decease cure, but rather a true virus to force the brutality of man to be exposed, ready to kill on command. Manifested into a physical form, but how... mutated they looked. Truly I could see Spindel's shattered dreams in his eyes, or was it madness? Betrayed by his government and exposed before his peers, there wasn't much Spindel and Anderson could do.
