A Genetic Defect

Chapter 1

by deadkitty1

Genes are responsible for the makeup of any creature in the universe, so when flaws appear, it's easy to blame the science behind it. Imperfections create what's unique about an individual and to deny it will only crumble the structure of life meant for it to live. There's no escaping the fate woven through one's genes. It seems like a meaningless struggle to fight against the predestined, but there are some willing to go through such a hurdle just to reclaim a taste of their former life that will never come to pass.

Caine observes the ship's deck of the curious splendor of yet another new planet. Night blankets the entire outstretch of the ocean as the ship hovers silently in search of land.

As promised, marshal law didn't greet him at gunpoint upon arrival. Titus may not be the dimwitted spoiled prince he's been lead to believe in the many rumors, though he also has the sneaking suspicion that it was thanks to his right-hand secretary Famulus that he's made it to Earth with his head attached to his body. With more than one prominent Entitled involve in this mission, Caine can sense trouble nipping at his heels. It's been a while since he's felt a surge of urgency and anxiousness since being marooned on a boring planet sector on some faraway galaxy. It's about time his strengths are put to good use.

He spent his days working on an already harvested planet to weed out runaways and annoying pests trying to steal whatever was leftover. Expected to waste away within the first half of the century, he proved them time and time again by excelling at such a menial job. He at least got located to other planets in need of a Skyjacker which by definition should be truant officer, but anything beats being confined in a prison unable to touch the sky or smell the wind.

A blight on the screen flashes as he prepares for a light descent. He secures a hand around his waist to check his Mauler and then casually jumps ship. A slow dim light carries him down into a garbage dump reeking of spoiled food and burnt plastic. Caine exhales the noxious stench as he quickly hovers his boots and flies away to a nearest building. As he lands, movement glints in the shadows. A creature emerges, sneering drops of saliva on the floor. He watches in amazement at the creature ready to tear his throat out. He takes a step closer to further inspect and the creature backfires more out of fear than the fake aggression earlier. Strange. It was a creature he's familiar with. Caine summons his device as he scrounges up information about this planet called Earth.

Earth is one of the richest planet in possession to one Balem Abrasax. Most assume its because of the precise genetic quality of the Teracies grown that match so closely to the human DNA. The profit off such valuable commodity is obvious and none can argue on that aspect.

As Caine goes over the database, he's finding out that Earth may be more special than it looks. So much in its plants and species look too much like many of the creatures he's seen in a handful of other planets. It doesn't seem to be by random either. They're so specific that it looks like someone personally handpicked their favorites to put on the planet . Almost as if Earth was their personal sanctuary. Balem isn't the type for nostalgia but no one else owns Earth except him. Who would go to great lengths to decorate a planet, especially one meant for harvesting?

His communicator alarms and he reaches for a button to connect the call.

"Mr. Wise," a calm seductive voice pulls through, "Have you reached the targeted planet for the mission?"

The Lycanton half breed sneers at the question. He knows for certain that Titus has him tagged. It's a tad ironic to answer but does it anyway since it's in his training.

"Yes."

"Excellent. I want to remind you how imperative it is that you locate this girl soon, not only for Lord Titus's sake but for yours, Mr. Wise," her tone is stoic and stern, meaning straight up business.

"I don't believe I was informed much about the girl," Caine prods, hoping to dig in more info.

"No, you weren't."

Getting the hint that it's the most information he'll get out of the woman, he changes the subject.

"This planet, was it always under Lord Balem's possession?"

"No. It in fact belonged to her royal highness, the Queen."

The Queen? Now it makes sense.

"Will that be all Mr. Wise?"

Caine snaps out of his thoughts to gruffly answer a, "Yes."

"Best of luck then."

As the woman signs out, her words leave a creeping sensation on his skin. Finding this girl is a simple enough mission. He's found a handful of dangerous characters in worlds significantly more terrifying. He's been in wars and experienced death, starvation, and torture; however, something in his intuition warns him more of just making a deal with the devil. There's no doubt that trouble awaits him and whether it's the haunting atmosphere of a beautiful planet or his chance for a future, Caine could not contain the exhilaration of serving Titus' will just to see the expression on his commander's face. Finally, a chance to redeem him and his dear friend has come.

4

Days pass and signs of danger appear in the form of Aliens as the people of Earth would call them. To Caine, Keepers are nothing but snooping bullies waiting to pick a fight with the nearest outerworldly creature available. Avoiding from being seen should have been a difficult task. Keepers are usually detailed-oriented, yet for some reason, they're too preoccupied with searching for something important than checking their surroundings. Place after place he looked, they were always there. It wasn't just a coincidence anymore. They are searching for the same thing, the girl.

Balem Abrasax had to have sent them. Although it has been so long since he's seen the Entitled, Caine remembers how their first encounter went. His kind, aptly known for their aggression, can backfire at a moment's notice. It was the first time he lost control over himself. The attack came so unexpected that all he remembers in that instance is waking up to the steel cage of his consequence. Attacking an Entitled sealed his fate. He should be dead by now, but his commander stood up for him in court. Stinger, his loyal friend who could not keep his mouth shut. As both of them were discharged and carried off to proceedings, he still recalls the familiar face in the crowd that day. The scientist that created him. The woman's eyes stared straight at him only to stray to the side as he followed her gaze. His eyes immediately locked on the Entitled he bit, waiting for the surge of aggression to fill him, he braced himself only it never came. When he went back to search for her in the crowd, she was gone.

"A defect in his genes."

He shakes the voice out of his thoughts. Ever since he was born, he's been told time and time again about his inferiority. Lycanton species have long since died out during the harvest of his planet, but the genes have survived relentlessly through the sickening pleasure of the scientists. He's of a feral breed. Someone with time and technology discovers his kind makes excellent military loyalists. After having a batch of pups gone wrong, he was meant for the incinerator and again was somehow spared. Many would call him lucky, but he knew better. It's a curse. He stayed locked inside a room for years being tested to his limits. Even after branded safe, none of the other Lycanton splices would dare get near him. It's as if the very being of his existence instinctively told them he's abnormal. He shouldn't be here. Rejected by his own kind, everyone awaited his death. Everyone except her, the woman who created him. Sh would not let him succumb to depression. She kept him busy by testing his strength, agility, and mind. He grew up a machine. It's no wonder he snapped during one of Balem's rare celebrations of his prevailing anniversary of the serum's further expansion and popularity. He used up all his pent up emotions on the most important figure in that site. Maybe cursed was putting it lightly. It's more like he has a death wish stamped on his forehead.

4

Blood continues to trickle down his arm as he lands safely inside the hideout. He inhales deeply, taking each breath in to calm his pumping adrenaline. He find a serum in the equipment, gladly provided by Titus as he applies a liberal handful of it on the burnt wounds. Most times, Caine wouldn't even bother healing such minor scrapes, but encountering those bounty hunters changed the game. He needs to be in top shape if he's going to fight against Balem's henchmen. There can be no doubt to whom they work for. How else can they have passage inside the planet? He wouldn't even try to think about the possibility of Titus betraying him. It would defeat the purpose of him being here in the first place. After all, he's the only one of his kind that stands a good chance of locating the girl.

A sigh escapes his mouth as the blood vessels and the muscles quickly rebuild through his body. He can even feel the renewed organs pump anew at the drop of a pill he swallowed. Describing the sensation is strange to anyone who has never experienced the structure of their body reversing in years. There's no pain or pleasure. It's an exercise the body does where instead of feeling fatigued, the body feels awakened.

It's a refreshing feeling until thoughts of how many splices were sacrificed prods through his conscience. His species were no exception. It was only due to some vague semblance of compassion that Lycanton half bloods like him even get a chance to live in such a sick society. There's a growing collection of splice genes as scientists freely experiment the combination of creatures to fuel their boredom. The copy industries don't even have to try to sell such a product of youth even when the morality of making it goes beyond the definition of humanity. Many groups and even a few Entitled who protest the use of the nectar went by ignored. There's no stopping it.

Abrasax Industries owns everybody. No one, no matter how smart or clever, can replicate the recipe quite as powerful and long-lasting as them. All the remaining businesses fail in comparison to the original. They're basically knockoffs. The only competition Abrasax Industries recognize is among themselves and Balem definitely has a handle on using the recipe to his advantage. While Balem's siblings use the riches of the nectar for their own material gains, he creates a network for it. He builds empires, ships, weapons, and people. Everything falls in the palm of his hands as it does with anyone who acquires money, name, and power. Without him, the industry will fall. He's the only known predecessor of a business run beyond a stretch of time and the only one that has been personally overseen by the Queen herself.

Caine settles down by his devices as he figures out a his next plan of attack. He had a name and a scent. Now it's time to see if the both match. He's so close to finding the girl that to lose her now to some Keepers and Bounty Hunters would taint his pride. He has yet to fail a mission since his training and he's not gonna blame it on being rusty. He'll find this girl and get her to Titus before the big bad brother even notices.

He comes upon a hotel room in the upper floors of a suite. He hops inside the bedroom, noticing dozens upon dozens of dresses scattered upon the bed and the floor. The whole room smells of a girl, yet not the girl he's looking for. He ruffles through some papers, a journal, and even some jewelry. The room belongs to the target named Katherine, but the genetic trail he picked up didn't match the name. Why is the scent different? He shakes some clothing, wondering if his nose is confusing the smell. It's not. Caine growls in frustration. He can even smell the Keepers who had the same thoughts as him. They probably erased the girl's memories after seeing she's the wrong person and went on their merry little way.

Hands on his head, he wonders where the girl could be. These Terracies are multiplying by the minute. For all he knows, he has the scent of the wrong genetic trail. The girl could be on the other side of the planet walking in a different hotel instead of here.

He inhales deeply to let out some steam and the familiar gene trail catches his nose. Caine leaps off the bed, hoping his genes didn't tarnish the minuscule ones floating around. Katherine was here. This is her room. There is no denying that. But Katherine was also talking to a different girl on the bed, this girl who coincidentally enough is the one he's been looking for. Why would she be using Katherine's name? If she isn't Katherine, then who is she?

He follows the scent into the closet, embracing the smell into his memory. Weird. Caine couldn't figure out if the scent was just overwhelming, but he felt nostalgic all of a sudden. It's as if he met this girl a long time ago. He quickly pushes it out of his mind. There's no way that can happen. His database informed him on just how short the life span of Terracies are and even without the Regenex, his species are made to at least triple a normal Terracie's span of life. No. He couldn't have met her. Yet it's unmistakable though how calming her scent is to him.

4

The next day, Caine keeps tabs on the whereabouts of Katherine. Having the Keepers know she's not the target might be a strike of luck because eventually she'll lead him to the real girl. Reconnaissance is a vital skill, but not a necessarily exciting aspect of the job. Ms. Katherine spends most of the day by the pool sunbathing. The only movement he caught is her turning around so the sun can burn her evenly on the other side. Her behavior, along with many of the other Terracies, puzzle him, but he isn't the type to bother asking questions about it. Although if she keeps this up, it's highly unlikely he'll get to meet his target.

Straying off the path, he scans through nearby buildings when the chattering activity of Keepers attract his attention. They quickly knock out some humans as they take in a disguise and trod inside a building. He gains momentum as he observes from the windows on what the Keepers are planning. They call a girl to come inside. Her fingers twitch erratically on the phone as she flashes them a nervous smile and follows the disguised Keeper through another room. Something is happening and this time he's not about to miss it.

Caine strides inside with confidence as he earns a couple of stare downs from the human onlookers. The scent of his target suddenly fills him. It's her. Even against the stale sterilization of the building, she stands out. He swiftly runs pass the empty receptionist desk and into the ward. He's found her at last.

He trails the scent, recognizing the fear within it. Her instincts work, but she failed to act upon it in time. Caine can only hope he saves her before those body snatchers do something worth smashing their heads in against a wall. He watches the girl's body float limp as one of the Keepers start to identify her. Her panicked words fall short as an ultimatum issues from the leader.

"Kill her."

Caine's eyes widen in shock as they cut off her oxygen to begin the process of her suffocation. His tight muscles spring into action, knocking one Keeper down and then another. The enemy rushes him as he grapples with a few more on his side. The sound of his Mauler pierces relentlessly through each one until they crumble into dust. With the fitness of an athlete, he swoops her in his arms and grabs the muzzle away from her face to examine her breathing. Her skin pales as she struggles against the drug to stay awake. She is breathtaking. He should have expected it when Titus asked him to fetch her, but Caine remains in awe all the same.

"Who are you?" she utters weakly as she falls in and out of consciousness.

He looks her in the eye as he searches for some sign of trust but fails as her lips steal his attention.

"Caine Wise. I'm here to help you."

She faints dead and he automatically begins moving. More Keepers will be on their way once they find out the previous batch failed in heir mission and he can only imagine what those bounty hunters will plan with her. He kicks open a door and places her down gently to gather her things. His body complains at the missed warmth she gave him only to spring back into life once he brings her back in his arms. With a quick exit, he flies out as fast as his boots can carry into his hideout where he can confirm both of their safety. Checking and double checking to make sure no one followed, he finally goes to see how the girl is doing.

Color returns in her cheeks and her breathing has returned to normal. He grabs her wallet as he compares her picture to her profile.

Jupiter Jones.

Jupiter.

He touches the brand placed on his neck. That's where he was created. A coincidence or not? Caine stares longer at the girl, wondering who she really is.

He programs one of the devices to do a scan. The results come in. Human. Nothing more. Why would Balem want her dead and Titus want her alive? He regrets not questioning the mission handed to him more. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knows the girl has to be more than just an addition to Titus's harem. The deal of releasing him and his friend clouded his mind. He should have known better.

Caine inputs commands as his equipment researches the history of Jupiter Jones the human on Planet Earth. While waiting for results, he taps his fingers on the shirt in his hand and eyes her near naked body with a grim expression. It has to be done.

Clothing from various galaxies seldom change so drastically in fashion. It's an easy enough procedure to dress a human. The difference being that the human is a girl, or a woman by the looks of it. He groans once again wondering how he gets himself into these things before plucking a brassier from the pile and preparing himself for his toughest mission yet.

He gruffly whispers a command as Jupiter starts floating once more to assist the military wolf in dressing the lady. He quickly unties the knots of the hospital gown as he positions the bra, trying to figure out where it should go. After more than a minute of guessing and failing miserably and thanking his stars for the heavy medication still lurking in her system, Caine quits as he searches for reference on how women dress before the picture of her nakedness really imprints itself in his head. Though if he had to be honest, it already has.

Women to Caine are the same. He considers them comrades in the field and respects them when they're his commanding officers. He's seen a handful of the high class and their attitude towards him are no different whether they are a boy or a girl. Sure he's admired a few women and there are some who even reciprocated his feelings, but he'd return back to the calling of his job which destroys the relationship before it even starts. He lacks a real passionate attraction to women and it's attributed to his genes. Lycanton splices like him are breed for war, not love. He's completely sterile like with every other splice unit in the field. Even when others do have the ability to reproduce, the war machine instilled in them wouldn't know what to even do with a newborn child. So the albino splice simply didn't feel anything personal towards women at all. He probably wouldn't know the feeling of attraction until it's too late. Just as dressing this human shouldn't elicit even the tiniest blush on his cheek. Yet the alpha male Lycanton struggles with a pair of pants and legs of a woman decades younger than him, while lacking the self-control of his lewd eyes that continue to trail at her feminine curves. Even shivers perk out of him just from the stray contact with her soft velvet skin.

Caine is a killing machine. Emotionless and hard-press for action, just not quite the action his training prepared him for.

After finishing the last button on her plaid blouse and congratulating himself on the easy task, the sound of his equipment beeps through. The research of Jupiter has finished. He checks why she ended up in a facility like that in the first place. The building looks like a place for the sick, even though her stats confirm she's in good optimal health. The readout said that she scheduled an appointment to sell her eggs. He looks at the screen, then back at her, wondering how she got herself in such a situation where she needed to do something so drastic. This girl has a story of her own to tell.

The more he reads about Jupiter Jones, the more he questions her worth. She's a normal girl with a big family working as a cleaning lady for the upper class humans in their luxurious living quarters. The few friends she has are literally people she serves. Nothing odd stands out about her. She's not made contact with other worldly beings nor has any interest in them. He couldn't see what he could have missed.

A message from Titus appears telling him that a ship will make it to their destination by nightfall. There is still plenty of time. He readjusts his gear, fuels his Mauler to the highest setting, and re-calibrates his gravity boots for maximum flying. He's not going to ignore his instincts this time. Titus may think everything is going according to plan, but one misstep and he's taking the girl back. She might be just a seed ready to be harvested, along with the other clueless humans going about their lives, yet like him she's human. She has a life, family, and friends. Stinger would not forgive him if he sacrifices a life to get theirs back. It wouldn't be right.

Caine walks over to the beauty sleeping before him, peacefully unaware of how her life will drastically change the minute she wakes up from her dream. With his Mauler on hand, he places it right besides her, hoping to garner her trust in a heartbeat. He's learned that trust is the first important aspect to establish with any relationship. There will be dangerous characters and unfamiliar places that await them. By giving her some power, they should come to a mutual agreement to support each other for the time being.

He caresses the side of her face to get the hair out of her eyes. He wants more than anything for her to sleep through it all while he battles the dragons and monsters lurking in the dark. It's too much for an innocent girl like her to be brought into this mess, but it's too late to turn back now. Knowing his luck, he'll likely get ambushed the minute they step out of the building and into Titus' ship. He can only wish her sweet dreams as he proceeds to dive into the chaos of the situation, trying his utmost best to be prepared for anything. He will protect her from anyone and bring her to safety. That's a promise.