Jacques was tapping his foot on the shiny marble floor. The secretary was taking her sweet time with those lab passes. His two bodyguards barely moved a muscle the whole time, carrying shades and guns even inside the building which was quite adequately secured from what he’s seen. There was at least a half dozen armed guards in the security room in addition to more patrolling the office complex.
A clacking sound echoed through the lobby…no doubt the high heels of the secretary stepping on marble. He could tell by the even timed clacks that she was in no hurry.
“Ah, apologies Ambassador for taking so long…the machine is still a bit glitchy. The technician is on sick leave and the reserve is on vacation.”
Jacques snorted and swiped the passes from her hand “Yes, yes…everyone likes to slack off. This country is going to hell if it keeps up like this. Thank you. You can go back to staring out the window from your desk.”
Handing out the respective passes to his bodyguards he entered the elevator and punched the button for the basement level. One of the guards checked his earplug, to acknowledge perhaps that he couldn’t receive anything anymore this deep down. Why they decided to build such a fortress lab was only a partly mystery to Jacques. He knew little of what went on here and was not so sure he would like to know all the grisly details.
The elevators doors opened accompanied with the expected ding sound of course. Lab supervisor/Chief Scientist Dr. Michel Rocard was there to greet them and give them the tour.
“Hello Ambassador. Welcome to Fenix genetech labs. ” The scientist said in a fairly friendly, if not joyous tone.
“I am a busy man, so you’ll excuse me for being to the point. The higher ups sent me here to evaluate the work that is being done here and weather it is worth further funding.”
The doctor smiled. His smile was devilish. It unsettled Jacques somewhat, he could sense that this guy was probably playing God down here and that he loved it. “Why of course, please come follow me. Tell me Ambassador, what do you know of the Human Genome Project?”
As they walked down the wide corridors he saw heavily armed guards patrol everywhere. They were carrying shotguns, assault rifles, flamethrowers and even a rocket launcher. It seemed like overkill to Jacques. Rocard looked entirely unphased by such heavy security while his own bodyguards seemed tense.
“The Human Genome Project? It was completed recently by several groups of scientists after the joint effort fell through for various political reasons. They have high hopes for curing all sorts of illnesses. “
Nodding he agreed and explained further. “Yes…with the application of supercomputers we can theoretically map every type of cancer and make a cure for it. That is the least interesting discovery if you ask me.”
Jacques raised an eyebrow “ What else did you discover?”
“Well the distribution of genes in mammalian chromosomes is striking. It turns out that human chromosomes have crowded urban centres with many genes in close proximity to one another and also vast expanses of unpopulated desert where only non coding DNA can be found. This distribution of genes is in marked contrast to the genomes of many other organisms. The full set of proteins encoded by the human genome is more complex than those of the invertebrates because humans have rearranged old protein domains into a rich collection of new architectures.” The doctor said in high speed, mincing every other word.
“Translation please?”
“It would seem that it was inscribed in our DNA to rise from the mud and achieve civilization. Not directly of course, but it seems fitting that much like our genes we live in crowded urban centers with unpopulated territories that serve for our agricultural needs. Even so, that tidbit perhaps is only a interesting observation of mine. I’ll show you the real meat of this project.”
They approached the main research facility. Security became even tighter if it was possible. Two heavy metallic doors parted ways and revealed a mice labyrinth like layout. They were standing on top of the walls, instead of mice though there were people working down there. All sorts of people…more armed guards, scientists all bleary eyed and desperate as if they were being held against their will.
Then there were what seemed like prisoners or more likely test subjects and specimens. They were also in a large variety. From bums, soldiers to regular people. Finally there were…creatures…that was the best description he could give them. Not anything made by Mother Nature that was sure. Dr. Rocard was now grinning heavily.
“What the hell is going on here?” Jacques asked, not certain he wanted to hear the answers.
“Relax Ambassador, we are not doing anything we haven’t asked permission for. Well…for the most of it. Sometimes it’s difficult to explain to bureaucrats what exactly are we doing. You are probably wondering about the non-Mendellians. They are like GMOs. Taken to extreme perhaps. Or as one of my colleagues says they are GMOs put on steroids and crack hahaha.”
“Uh-huh and what is their use?” He inquired while loosening his tie, feeling a little sick by all this.
“For now they are purely experimental, but there are a few ideas being bounced back and forth. Maybe one day you’ll end up selling them as weapons Ambassador” the doctor laughed.
Jacques was not entirely amused. “And what of those people down there? What kind of work is being done on them?”
Bringing his glasses up with his finger Rocard began “They serve as subjects and recourses for our main work. The Les Enfants Terribles and the Genome Soldiers project. Out of the 20 to 30 thousand genes we managed to track down the ‘soldier’ genes. They are thought to be responsible for everything from strategic thinking …to the so called ‘killer instinct’. Right now we are using gene therapy to apply them to Army volunteers. Even in the worst case scenario nobody will notice a few front line infantry missing.”
As he ran pondered on the possible use of this, his nausea slowly faded and his cold, calculating self kicked back in. “And the other project?”
“Well it all depends….if you want to hear more about next generation special forces, in such numbers that would give even the Chinese a headache…I think the matter of funding needs to be resolved” the doctor said deviously, knowing full well the Ambassador liked the cake he served him and wanted more.
“From what I’ve seen….I think it can be arranged.” Jacques Le Blanc knew that if he had a soul, it would go straight to hell. For he had made not a deal with God, but a pact with the Devil.