Chapter 1293
“They spent years-decades, really-pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into this project. No way would they let some test subject just waltz in and steal it p>
“And if my parents really did manage to make off with the Gen-8 virus, why would the people behind it go straight to killing them, instead of capturing them and squeezing every last secret out of them p>
“Plus, if they’d already cracked the code for Gen-8, even if someone stole it, the research team should be able to recreate it, right? So why is it that their new Gen- 8 is so flawed p>
Tracey’s face was grave, her tone serious.
“There are definitely a lot of suspicious things about your parents and the real Gen-8 virus. But that last question, I think, has a pretty clear answer p>
“It’s been thirty-five years, and they still haven’t managed to reproduce the real Gen-8. If anything, their research has gone backwards. That suggests something went wrong with the team itself p>
“Think about it-these scientists have been at this since Gen-1, then from Gen-7 to the real Gen-8. All those years add up. Most of the original researchers would be either retired, dead, or—well, maybe even taken out by someone with an agenda p>
“If all the crucial data was lost along the way, the whole thing would have to be rebuilt from scratch, with a new team. And if those newcomers aren’t up to snuff, then of course their Gen-8 would be a pale shadow of the real thing p>
Tarquin Bradford nodded. That explanation made sense, at least. But there were still so many strange coincidences between his parents and the real Gen-8 virus. Maybe they died because of the virus-or maybe for some other reason.
The mysterious figure who kept tracking him—maybe they were looking for information about Gen-8, or samples, or… something else entirely.
“Tarquin, there are thousands of deadly viruses out there,” Tracey said suddenly, her voice softer now. “Do you know why I care so much about this one p>
Tarquin looked at her, shaking his head. “No. Why p>
ful
Tracey sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose You see the news. Wars breaking out all over-innocent people caught in the crossfire, lives shattered, kids growing up with nothing but fear and pain. It’s right? When you see what’s happening in places like Gaza, when you see the hopelessness in those children’s eyes, it breaks your heart. But I can tell you, with absolute certainty, if the real Gen-8 virus ever gets released here, what we’ll face will make their suffering look merciful by comparison p>
Tarquin’s eyes widened. He’d never seen Tracey so serious.
“Bioweapons are a hell of a lot scarier than guns or bombs,” she said, voice low
and urgent. “And this virus… it’s something else entirely p>
She leaned in, whispering to Tarquin. Whatever she told him made his pupils
dilate in shock-he was stunned, more than he’d ever been in his life.
Tracey clenched her jaw, her fists tight.
“We all know peace is what humanity needs. But there’s always someone-some country, some power, some group-who refuses to let the world live in peace p>
“They’ll sacrifice anything-other people, their own children’s futures-just to
satisfy their own greed or twisted desires p>
“And then there are those who get their kicks from misery. The more others suffer, the happier they are p>
“And don’t even get me started on those jealous nations-soon as they see someone else getting stronger their first instinct isn’t to improve themselves, but to tear the other guy down. Is that not the dumbest, most vicious thing you can imagine p>
Her hands were balled into fists, her voice trembling with rage.
“I had to fake my own death and disappear because of people like them p>