Devoured World: Volume One Read online

  “Whoa, calm down. You’re going to hurt yourself!”

  “Turn him on his side or he’ll go into cardiac arrest!”

  Firm hands grasped the flailing figure, twisting him over to allow the yellow substance to drain from the new-born lungs.

  “That’s it, let it all out.”

  Hacking coughs sprayed a mixture of bile and phlegm across the polymer casing. From around the room came sounds of similar struggles as the woken took their first breath of real oxygen. A high-pitched whine rose above the tumult. Three rapid beeps and a dull thud silenced the infernal noise for a moment, but the insistent wail resumed.

  “Again!”

  Three more chirps and the thud sounded again. This time, the electronic squalling did not return.

  “Take him to intensive care until we can run a full neurological diagnostic.”

  “Yes, Doctor.”

  The trembling figure had expelled the last traces of liquid and lay exhausted in the clear tube. A hinged door to his vessel dripped with remnants of the mucus-like substance.

  “Take your time, there’s no rush. You’re ok now,” said the owner of the hands. His voice had lowered by several octaves and cooed like a father addressing a fearful child.

  A gloved hand wiped at his neck before pressing a cold, metallic probe against the untainted skin.

  “Heart rate thirty-five beats per minute, blood pressure is one ten over seventy.”

  “Impressive. It’s been a while since we’ve seen one that strong right out of the gate.”

  “He’ll make a good asset, that’s for sure.”

  His short brown hair was slick from the gelid coating. The man’s eyelids fluttered open, revealing pale blue irises with slivers of grey. Glancing around, they started to widen in fear.

  “You’re not blind, don’t panic. Your eyesight will return in the next few minutes.”

  “I…” croaked the figure.

  “Just lay still and conserve your strength. Everything will be explained in time.”

  Closing his eyes, the man visibly relaxed. All tension left the thick, bunched muscles and his harried breathing slowed.

  “That’s good. We’re going to help you out of there and into a chair. Your legs are going to feel weak to start with, so hold onto us tightly until we get you sat down.”

  The nurses clasped the man firmly beneath each arm and hoisted him over the lip of the gestation tube. Legs flopping, he allowed himself to be manhandled, providing as much assistance as the unsteady limbs would allow. A strap was pulled tightly across his chest and the buckle secured with a snap.

  “Good job. We need to get you moving to check for any impulse weakness.”

  He nodded.

  “Firstly, I want you to curl your toes.”

  The man complied. Taking it a step further, he rotated an ankle then stretched out the lower leg. Flexing his thigh, mounds of glistening quadriceps stood proudly.

  “Slow down, speed racer. Now I want you to squeeze my hand.”

  Taking the offered palm, he applied pressure until the nurse hissed in pain.

  “Ok, that’s enough!”

  “Pussy! He’s a spawnling.”

  “Let him crush your hand if you’re so tough.”

  “Sorry,” croaked the seated figure.

  Uttering the apology triggered a coughing fit and more of the gelatinous goo flecked the pristine white trousers of the nurse.

  “Don’t sweat it. It’s an honour to be helping you, Andrew.”

  “Andrew?” he asked, confusion fogging his mind.

  “The commander will explain everything once we’ve got you cleaned up and into the recovery suite.”

  “Where am I?”

  “She’ll explain that too, don’t worry.”

  Blurred lines and obscure, blended colours firmed in Andrew’s vision. The room was dazzlingly white, with every surface reflecting the fluorescent ceiling lights in the glossy finish. Squinting, he tried to ascertain the length of the bizarre suite, but the haziness thwarted his attempts.

  “I still can’t see properly.”

  “Full depth of vision will return in a while, Andrew. For now, just enjoy the ride,” replied his nurse, twisting the wheelchair and moving away from the pod.

  “Call me Andy,” he croaked.

  “Do you prefer that?”

  Frowning, he tried to concentrate on the fragment of memory that danced on the edge of his mind. “I think so, yes. It seems… familiar.”

  The second nurse cast an astonished glance at his partner. “First stages of memory restoration after four minutes. That’s got to be some kind of record?”

  “I’ve never heard anyone come close to that,” he confirmed. “I’m Tom.”

  Offering a hand, Andy shook it and winced when he saw the gelatinous residue left on Tom’s palm.

  “And I’m Eric,” added the other, choosing to remain clean and keeping his own limb well out of reach.

  Hundreds of medical staff working in pairs were bustling industriously around rows of clear, identical cylinders. Faces set, they focused on the task of safely extracting their charge from the incubators. All along the left side of the room were men being assisted into stainless steel wheelchairs. The only obvious trait shared between them was the high level of physical strength, with well-defined muscles untouched by an ounce of bodyfat. Glancing to the right, it was a similar scene except they were all female. Lacking the same muscle mass, still their bodies were wiry and athletic. Every ethnicity was represented in their number; African, Chinese, Middle-Eastern, European. Andy could see the same feeling of confusion etched on their faces as he passed.

  “Great work, everybody. Get them cleaned and clothed while I inform the commander the spawning’s nearing the end of phase one.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” said Tom as they passed the senior physician.

  “Spawning?”

  “All your questions will be answered shortly, Andy. In the meantime, let’s get you in the shower.”

  Falling silent, Andy joined the long procession of sterile wheelchairs as they moved towards the pneumatic exit doors. With a chirp from the overhead sensor, they glided open revealing a small chamber beyond. Lining up alongside eight others, the door closed, and a red light blazed to life turning everything a dark crimson.

  “Hold your breath,” said one of the other nurses. “It smells like a mixture of lavender and shit.”

  Andy glanced back at Eric who nodded and wafted a hand in front of his face. With a hiss, jets of mist covered them from every angle. Curiosity got the better of him and he took a tiny whiff of the decontamination gas. Regret quickly replaced the inquisitiveness as Andy bent double, dry heaving from the stench.

  “She did warn you,” teased Tom light-heartedly, rubbing his back.

  “You’re lucky your stomach’s empty or we’d have to go through it again after you were hosed down,” chuckled Eric.

  “To hell with that,” Andy offered weakly.

  The red light was replaced by a green signal and the second set of doors opened silently.

  “Time for that wash,” said Tom, wheeling him through.

  After donning waterproof suits, the nurses positioned Andy beneath the shower.

  “I’d like to stand if that’s ok?”

  Tom looked at Eric and shrugged. “Ok, buddy. But I’ll leave the chair close just in case.”

  Unsnapping the plastic restraint, the two men helped Andy to rise gingerly from the seat. After a brief wobble, he managed to maintain balance.

  “Thank you.”

  “Our pleasure. Now hold still while we wash the amniotic fluid off.”

  Andy considered asking what he meant, but their repeated claims of forthcoming answers silenced him. A shudder of intense pleasure coursed through his body as the warm water sprayed down from above. It was as if he’d never experienced the sensation of the balmy liquid before. The way it ran down his face, cleansing the sticky gel. The tickle as it traced its way down his
firm body, running between the cleft of his buttocks. Turning around, the water trickled from his penis, triggering an awkward growth.

  “Oh shit, I’m sorry,” he groaned, cupping himself.

  “It’s normal, don’t worry about it,” Tom said matter-of-factly. Neither of the men, or any of the other nurses in the vast shower block, were the least bit perturbed by the dozens of bobbing erections and the embarrassed looks of their owners.

  “You do this often?” Andy asked.

  “More than we’d like,” sighed Eric.

  A thought struck Andy as he stood there in the luxurious downpour. Dozens of his fellow ‘spawnlings’ as he’d heard themselves named were all buck naked, yet he felt no desire towards any of the women being washed. In the back of his mind he knew they were all remarkably attractive, even stunning, but there were none of the usual human impulses. Maybe it was the effects of their treatment wearing off? Obviously, they’d been kept in the strange vessels because of injury or other cause which would be explained later. Whatever medicine had been administered would likely account for their hazy memory as well.

  “All done.”

  Allowing himself to be seated, Andy tried to penetrate the frustrating fog hiding his past. The vivid flashbacks which preceded his abrupt awakening were fading in and out of focus. Where were the people in his dream? Who were they? Each time he tried to draw them into the light of understanding, a pang of discomfort shot through his brain until he finally gave up.

  “Are you ok?” Eric asked with evident concern.

  “Just a headache,” Andy replied.

  “I’ll get you a shot of painkillers while you relax in recovery.”

  “Thanks, Tom.”

  As they exited the steamy shower facility, the next batch of patients were being brought in. Andy scanned the faces of the crowd and scowled. A feeling of déjà vu accompanied a vague impression that he knew these people. Some of the dazed looking men and women looked so familiar. Probing at the frustratingly unobtainable truth, a fresh wave of pain radiated through his skull.

  “Don’t force it,” Eric remarked, knowingly. “They’ll come back in time.”

  “Truth be told, you may wish they hadn’t,” Tom finished.

  ∞∞∞∞∞∞

  Rows of seats were lined up facing a huge projector screen set in the wall. Moving to their designated space in silence, the room quickly filled with spawnlings. Hovering at the periphery were the medical staff, all watching their patient for any unforeseen ailments. Andy had been informed that the monitoring would continue for another twenty-four hours until they were finally released. Nervous coughs and restless shuffling were the only sounds in the auditorium. A door opened, and a stern looking soldier walked briskly to the podium below the display. The uniform was immaculately pressed, and rows of medals stood proudly on her chest. A cluster of gold arrows adorned each shoulder. Her blond hair was pulled back and secured in a tight bun. Staring at the expectant faces, her steely gaze softened slightly, and she smiled.

  “Welcome, everybody. I’m General Ashdown and I lead the Sovereign Guard armies of the Divinity Alliance. I’ll explain more about myself in the coming days, but for the time being, please direct your attention to the display overhead.”

  Moving to one side, she too craned her neck upwards as the white background was replaced by a live stream. Seated at a carved onyx desk was a middle-aged woman wearing a red silken gown. Frizzy blonde hair giving way to grey at the temples sat atop her head and Andy couldn’t help but liken her to a female Einstein. Intertwining her fingers on the desk, she leaned towards the camera.

  “Good morning, my children. I call you that because to me you’re all my children, in thought if not in blood. What I’m about to tell you will come as a shock, but please bear with me until the end. Any questions you may have can be directed to General Ashdown, your nurses, or your area coordinator.”

  She paused for a few seconds, choosing her approach. It didn’t matter that this was an address she’d made a thousand times before, it still filled her with trepidation.

  Taking a deep breath, she began. “The year is 2182 and the world you once knew is gone.”

  Shouts of disbelief burst forth around the room.

  “That’s impossible!”

  “What is this bullshit?”

  General Ashdown raised a hand to hush the questions and turned back to the screen.

  “My name is Empress Verena and I’m the elected Ruler of Planet Earth. Or what’s left of it. To understand what’s happening and your role in the struggle, I need to take you back one and a half centuries. Our world was tearing itself apart with conflict. Across the globe, governments were trying to further their own ends at the expense of their fellow man. Peaceful cooperation for the betterment of humanity was as far away as it had ever been. A fascistic New World Order arose in the early part of the twenty-first century and was swiftly crushed by the people who disliked being enslaved for corporate profit. Their victory didn’t come without great loss of life, however. After the horror of the civil war, nation states had returned, and an uneasy peace took hold. It was at this time that a miracle happened. Or so it seemed.”

  A couple of the audience members gasped as hidden memories revealed themselves.

  “Small meteors impacted every corner of the earth on that warm July day in 2036. The rocks were quickly discovered to be nothing of the sort and were, in fact, extra-terrestrial pods from an unknown source in the universe. Contained within them was knowledge, far in advance of our own. The most incredible material was a complete mapping of the human genome on a far deeper level than our own scientists had achieved. On top of this was the technology which would allow us to eradicate every illness and disease known to man by making slight changes to the DNA of the subject. After much speculation, trials were carried out in a limited global capacity and for the first time in a long time, we were working as one. The tests proved conclusive; people with life shortening diseases such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, HIV, all recovered completely. What’s more, it seemed their biology had been altered to such a degree that the aging process was slowed down by a factor of three. It was a miracle!”

  More of the patients had started to recall brief snatches of the events of the time. Eyes narrowing, they knew it was anything but a miracle.

  “Within twelve months, a single dose capsule had been created that worked on a cellular level to achieve the same result. Billions of people took the pill willingly, but a resolute minority held out against the promises of longevity. It eventually transpired that several doubting nations had even destroyed the tablets, providing their populace with a placebo in its place. The same powers that brought into being the first One World Government in Europe had resurfaced and pushed their puppet leaders to force the treatment on the unwilling. War broke out again, but it was short lived. The first reports were coming in about a spike in stillbirths. Within a month the minor spike had reached one hundred percent of all pregnancies in the women who’d taken the drug. Mass testing was undertaken, and the results were beyond comprehension. The DNA changes had continued after the initial chromosomal improvements, resulting in every single man and woman who had undergone treatment becoming sterile. With the advances in our own technology, it was discovered our benefactors had boobytrapped their gift. Without thinking, we’d fallen for their promises and doomed ninety percent of the population to a long, childless life. If it hadn’t been for the caution of the United States, United Kingdom, and a few other nations, humanity would’ve ceased to exist in under three hundred years.”

  More than a quarter of those watching had regained their memory of what came next and shuddered.

  “We think the plan had always been to trick us into wiping ourselves out. Once humanity was gone, the aliens would swoop in and either settle our planet or take whatever it was they wanted. It turns out that even the plans of a highly advanced extra-terrestrial species can go awry. The first infections started to manifest around a year la
ter, and at first no one knew what was happening. Our chief scientists discovered the treatment had gone rogue, mutating into something far worse than the inability to conceive. Changes were occurring on a molecular level, altering the host in horrific ways. A week after isolation, the brain of the victim had lost all but the most basic functions, while the body became incredibly powerful to compensate. Attempts to combat the infection were fruitless, and within a few hellish days, the world was overrun by what can only be described as mutants. Mindless hunters of flesh, with no emotions or empathy. A single bite or scratch was enough to doom the victim. Some turned in seconds, some in an hour, but they all turned. Mankind was on the brink of being destroyed, so the remaining governments launched their entire nuclear arsenal to try and hold back the tide of infected. It worked, but not without inflicting a heavy toll on the survivors. Radiation sickness took millions of lives, but their sacrifice wasn’t in vain. Given a window of respite from the risen, we hid from the fallout. When we surfaced, the infected were licking their wounds too, and we were able to construct fortress cities from the ruins in which to survive. I’m speaking to you from one such place; Tempest City, once called New York City. A sprawling metropolis covering nearly one thousand square miles. Dozens of similar bastions of humanity exist, with thousands of outposts servicing the requirements of our remaining population.”

  To her rear, a floor to ceiling mirror morphed into clear glass, revealing a grey, forbidding landscape of towering buildings and dark clouds, fitful lightning tearing across the sky. Flames burst sporadically from large vent stacks, adding to the overall bleakness. Thick pipes belched steam into the night air, expelled by a subterranean power station.