Chapter 1 - A Black Book From The Future
"To The Pacific Union Citizens of 2161,
I bring you grim tidings. The Atlantic Republic is destined to triumph over the power of the genome. In order to prevent this, we must create a recursive time loop and give you this Death Note.
Allow us to explain. The Death Note is an item that is not of this world. It possesses the supernatural quality to kill anyone whose name is written in it, provided the writer has the victim's face in their mind. The default cause of death is a brain aneurysm, but you can specify others provided that they remain plausible.
For reasons too complicated to explain in this short letter, the Death Note is pivotal to our success. You must use it against Atlantic Republic President Nora Martinez first, as a demonstration of our might. Our historical records indicate this was the moment where the tide turned against us, and the human genome began to be regress to its natural state.
Please do what must be done to secure the future of our country and our species.
The Unified Pacific Administration, September 2344"
-frutp-
PACIFIC UNION PRESIDENT ANDREW DURAN: No, I'm not joking. This appeared out of nowhere in my office. I believe it is real.
ADVISOR: What should we do?
PRESIDENT: Exactly what the Atlantic Republic would do with it in our situation.
-frutp-
Taking out a pen, the Pacific Union soldier quickly wrote the following into the Death Note:
Nora Martinez
-frutp-
The Midwestern Wasteland
Nora Martinez had no idea why the Atlantic's emergency leadership bunker was in the Midwestern Wasteland. They didn't have to deal with the unbearably hot weather because the bunker was climate controlled, but it was very far away from-
"MADAM PRESIDENT?!"
"SOMEONE GET A MEDIC IN HERE?!"
"OH MY GOD, SHE'S DEAD!"
"WHAT'S HAPPENING?!"
-frupt-
"The superior genome will triumph."
Chapter 2 - Crippling the Atlantic
ATLANTIC REPUBLIC LEADERSHIP MASSACRE LEAVES HUNDREDS DEAD
Vancouver (UP) - A series of unexplained deaths via brain aneurysm has crippled the leadership of the Atlantic Republic and left it wide open for offensive attacks from the Pacific Union. Approximately seven hundred senior figures in the Atlantic Union government, including all high-ranking members of the Technological Progress Party, are dead.
Scientists have been left baffled by the aneurysms, which appear to be assassinations that use technology far in advance of what either of the two American nations possesses…
-frutp-
Jet Brody stared at his gun. He could hear the Pacifican soldiers in the distance.
Click. Safety off.
It was over. Suddenly, and without any explanation other than "God hates technology." How the FUCK did this happen? He supposed it didn't really matter, since those genetically modified freaks were going to run everything now.
"HEY! THERE'S AN ATLANTIC SOLDIER OVER HERE!"
He raises the gun to his temple.
"Hey…buddy? It's OK, the war's gonna be over soon. You don't have to-"
"To" was the last word Jet Brody heard before he shot himself square in the head, dying instantly.
-frutp-
INTERIM ATLANTIC REPUBLIC PRESIDENT: How did you do it?
PACIFIC UNION PRESIDENT ANDREW DURAN: Do you really think I'd tell you that?
INTERIM: You're going to need our technological abilities. You can't spend all your time on those horrible genome experiments. We could prove useful.
DURAN: Perhaps. But truthfully, I doubt you would believe me if I told you.
[pause.]
DURAN: You know what? I'm feeling indulgent. Very well. We use a book labeled "Death Note" which kills human beings if you write their name in it while picturing their face in your mind.
INTERIM: If you don't want to tell me, just sign the fucking surrender instrument already.
DURAN: I told you that you would not believe me.
INTERIM: Of course I don't! No book can kill people! It's science fiction!
DURAN: Oh? And how would you describe the deaths of your leaders without using the words "science fiction."
[pause.]
DURAN: This discussion serves no purpose. Sign, now.
INTERIM: Fuck you, freak.
DURAN: Thank you.
[signed.]
[surrender.]
Chapter 3 - The Glorious Genome
Mark was in a very good mood.
The Atlantic Republic had been beaten! Now there was nothing to stand in the way of their glorious country's genetic modification research.
He had celebrated by going to the nearby modification center and getting some slick new blue eyes. Blue for the Pacific Ocean!
"Nice eyes," the woman sitting next to him on the bus complimented.
"Thanks!" He replied. "I like yours too. Silver eyes are slick."
"Can you believe those assholes on the other side of the continent wanted to take these away? They'd probably gouge our eyes out."
Mark spit on the floor of the bus to indicate his disgust, which caused several passengers to look at him askance. He didn't care.
"Well, we're safe now. And so is the genome!"
-frutp-
PACIFIC UNION UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR: Now that all parties have agreed to recognize our annexation and incorporation of the Atlantic Republic, and accordingly also recognize us as the sole legal successor to the United States, we must turn to the genome.
SIBERIAN UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR: You do not get to dictate the future of all humanity simply because you won a war! The Union of Siberia stands in FIRM opposition to all forms of genetic modification!
PACIFIC: I think you'll find we can in a few years. With the collective economic power of the rebuilt ruins of the Atlantic Republic, we will continue our genome project regardless of the opinion of the United Nations. And we have...other methods to persuade you.
SIBERIAN: What's that supposed to mean?
PACIFIC: I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise!
UN MEDIATOR: The ambassador is reminded that all members of the United Nations are bound by the Single Convention on Genetic Modification-
PACIFIC: And the nation of Canada was bound by the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs in the early 21st century, but it did not stop them from legalizing cannabis. Sometimes international laws must be broken for the sake of all mankind.
Chapter 4 - Gattaca
34 years later…
Andrew Smith-Martinez hated his name. His last one because it was annoying, but ESPECIALLY his first one. Why the hell had his parents named him after the President during the Unification War if they were going to OPPOSE genetic modification?!
He was the laughing stock of his entire school, derisively called a "retro" and relentlessly bullied whenever the teachers weren't looking. And whenever he complained to the teachers, he could read them well enough to know they felt just as much contempt for him even if they couldn't say it.
Only Trisha and Josh kept him going. They were the only other two puries (their bigotry-free identifier for his people) in the school, and their bond was unbreakable. When the other kids closed in on Andrew, Trisha and Josh would step in to help.
"Retro freaks!" They'd say.
"We're pure and you're not!" The three would retort. And then a fight, always a fight.
The worst part? It wouldn't end when he was done with school. Every job of note banned puries from applying, cosigning him to a subsistence existence as a janitor or construction worker.
He loved alternate history. Histories where the Atlantic Republic triumphed and he was the norm rather than the exception. Books were a refuge, an escape from the bleak reality the Unification War had forced on him and all children who were not genetically modified.
He liked to think about his alternate selves, and sincerely hoped they existed and were living better lives than he was.
Epilogue: The Genetic Eternity
5000 Years Later...
Ner'Yet was worried. The Aka'Ven had been relentlessly studying the strange giant device they had discovered for months. There was endless debate on what to do with it. Eventually, however, the Assembly of Elders had agreed to send a single scouting ship through it.
And now that he was on the other side of it, a MASSIVE spaceship was directly in front of his tiny one. He had no idea what to do, so he decided to go with standard First Contact Protocol and opened a communication line to the ship.
"Greetings," he said nervously. "I am Ner'Yet Dashar of the Aka'Ven Union. We come in peace, and wish to open diplomatic relations between our peoples."
The reply was instant.
"The Aka'Ven are hereby incorporated into the United Genome Project," the transmission said. "As part of this process, we will be sending a genetic screening team to your home system in two standard Vek'Ak days. All Aka'Ven will be required to submit to universal genetic screening; those who are genetically undesirable will be painlessly disposed of. Once the screening is complete, you will then be required to undergo standard genetic modification. Again, any who cannot be modified will be painlessly disposed of. Please prepare for your uplifting. We look forward to showing you the glories of science!"
The transmission was cut off.
Ner'Yet remained stunned into silence over an hour later, unable to comprehend just what was about to be visited upon Vek'Ak.