Project 26
by
Verbum
Chapter One
June 17, 1990
Dr. Sharon Blevins looked at the crowd of people from behind the curtain and swallowed the lump forming in her throat. In the auditorium there were representatives from every major world power, all quietly chatting with one another while they waited for the presentation to start.
This is nothing to worry about, she thought. After all, she had met much of the audience before. The Ascension Island Biogenetic Research Station had grown much bigger since their opening in the mid-seventies and now included a major lab in the United States, and many secondary stations in twenty-six other countries. The head of all this was Dr. Blevins, the Chairperson of the entire thing known only as Project 26; with all of that to consider, of course she had met them. Gyrich, who was sitting in one of the chairs behind the curtain noticed her nervousness, stood up, and went over to her.
"Good Luck, kid," he said to her and grinned. She smiled back nervously back at him as she walked out from behind the curtain.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," she began. The room immediately quieted down.
"I, Dr. Sharon Blevins, would like to welcome you to the Ascension Island Biogenetic Research Station. Over the past 15 years, we here have dedicated our lives to the pursuit of knowledge in the field of biogenetics, a vastly unknown but very important science, especially in the study of mutant physiology." Scattered clapping here and there.
"This," she continued,"is where we have spent most of our research. Finding and isolating the gene which causes the mutation is just the tip of the iceberg, however. We have learned to manipulate the gene, causing an increase and decrease in the extent of power rendered. We have learned how to tweak the DNA, getting just the results that we requested. Finally, we are closer than ever to finding a way to block that gene." The audience clapped vigorously. Sharon held up a hand to quiet them.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the implications that such a finding would cause would mean that instead of having to deal with the increased threat that the rapid rate in mutant births is causing, we can totally eradicate the gene. Out of control mutant criminals could be brought to justice by the simple tweaking of their genetic matter. Imagine a world without Magneto, without the X-Men causing a constant threat to our homes and families. That is what we have worked for, and this entire station would like to thank you for your continuing support over the past 15 years. Thanks to your dedication we have a discovery that could forever change the way biogenetics is studied."
As the audience clapped, Sharon left the podium to Gyrich, so he could take over. She had other business to attend to...
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The pain was returning, and that meant that she would get no dinner; they never fed those whose were experimented on that day. They were too fragile, or so they said. Psion laid down on her bunk and closed her eyes. The hum of the machinery went on, and she dozed off. She didn't know that she was asleep until a splash of water hit her. She woke up abruptly as Aquarius stood by her bunk, a frown creasing her face.
"It's time to eat, " the Asian girl said.
"I don't get food today." Psion pushed her blond bob off of her face.
"Oh." She frowned and turned away. "Psion, I could always--
Don't even think about it, she replied mentally. She never replied telepathically unless she couldn't help it, such as in her telepathy training, or when she became really angry.
"You really should eat; you're pale."
"I'd rather not. Just go on without me."
"If you say so." Aquarius turned on her heel and left the room to go to the mess hall. Psion laid back down on her bunk and fell back into a dreamless sleep.
End part one