Work Text:
Evolution is considered by many the process where living organisms become the best versions of themselves. Unfortunately, this process is famously slow, requiring hundreds if not millions of years for humanity to achieve what they have not. It was Reagan Ridley's job as a geneticist to expedite this process, finding ways to make human society better in every way. Her years of research and experimentation Ridley had made many breakthroughs such as the development of growth hormones that could be used to increase the size of animals, especially livestock. These hormones were shown to increase the size of any animal, even rabbits with it currently being unknown how large the creatures could grow in size. Reagan's most recent research involved looking into the possibility of splicing animal DNA with humans. Many possible applications include the use of Lizard DNA for the regeneration of limbs for amputees and also the alteration of brain chemistry to increase brain capacity in humans. She had always believed that the work that she did was part of the greater good of the world but there was always one part of her that she always despised. Part of her company’s research process involved the use of animals for testing which involved painful tests that often resulted in death which always hurt her deep within her core.
Creating serums to expand a person's brain capacity required testing to determine any negative effects they would have, especially the negative kind. There was no limit to what type of animal was tested on rats, raccoons, and even wolves that were occasionally captured and used; the board was never picky on what was used as long as it could show positive results. Unfortunately, many of these tests were painful resulting in the tested animals screeching in pain from the doses administered. Reagan would often do her best to not witness these effects. Throughout her life, she had always found it easier to connect with animals than people always having an easier time befriending small animals that roamed the woods in our backyard than fellow kids found at her school. Animals never would hurt her or make fun of her behind her back they were just honest. This continued into her adulthood where she struggled to make human connections but still managed to excel academically despite her social struggles. Her skill eventually helped her in her company where they specialized in biological enhancements.
Around the year 2020 the company’s work in biologically expanding a living thing's brain capacity with wolves actually being the first to show an increase in capacity. Unfortunately, such expansion was limited to the size of the creature which is where growth hormones that she had developed had come in handy. Two wolves were tested using a combination of growth hormones and brain-enhancing chemicals which not only increased their size and brain capacity beyond normal capacity. There were also more physical changes than Reagan had expected with the bone structures actually changing to be more bipedal in nature and changing their front paws to increase their dexterity. Reagan had named these two Romulus and Remus founders of Rome after being raised by a female wolf. Both of them quickly grew a bond together and they both excelled through different learning levels eventually communicating through verbal communication. Reagan took great interest in keeping track of both wolves' progress, giving them both encouragement as they progressed.
An image identification test was made for some special moments with each of the wolves. A card was placed in front of Remus and he would be required to point at a picture that was associated with the word on that card. Each one was an expected result with Remus pointing to the following picture.
House.
Car.
Sun.
During the next card, Remus then pointed directly at her which greatly confused Reagan until she took a look at the card in question.
Mom.
The revelation brought a rare smile to the woman's face and the emotion brought on was surprise when she suddenly felt the augmented wolf wrap his arms around her waist which she happily accepted.
Reagan was probably happiest every day when she was with those two wolves reading to them and playing with them Unfortunately others couldn't let her be.
“The board is getting very impatient with you.” Charles, a lawyer who represented her company’s board of directors.
“And as I have said before something like this takes time. I can't just make it go faster.”
“From what I have heard the results we needed you just refuse to end it.”
Reagan just glared at the man and looked away “I have no idea what you're talking about.”
“You may be the head of the company but you can't control the people who work for you. The purpose of these test subjects is to determine if the serums work then we move on to human usage and not treat the test subjects like children.”
“I have done no such thing.”
“Then end the experiment and put those freaks of nature down or the board will oust you from your position.” The lawyer said there was no real emotion behind his voice.
Reagan's face remained neutral but she hid any anger she felt was hidden through the clenching of her fist around her waist.
“I will actually need you to sign a few legal documents to expedite the process.”
Agreeing, Charles followed Reagan to the lower level of her facility reaching an office area. Searching the desk of papers Charles didn't notice Reagan take a syringe from her pocket and without saying a word stabbed the man in the neck. Once the syringe was removed Charles turned around with a look of shock.
“What did you..,” he couldn't finish his sentence as he struggled to breathe and collapsed on the floor.
“New future plans Charles You're not part of it in fact no one is.” Reagan said with a cold unfeeling voice as she watched Charles take his last breath.
Reagan didn't want to do that but Charles had gotten in the way of her new plans. Her breakthrough with Romulus and Remus had caused a breakthrough moment realizing some real revelations. Throughout her life, she had always tried to make a perfect human being but there's no such thing as humanity would always be flawed with the worst instincts. Humanity will always destroy themselves and the world itself through their actions toward the ecosystem. They are just a virus and the only way to fix that is to remove it. That's why with her company’s base of operations worldwide she had secretly been developing a way to complete this monumental task. First was the virus fast spreading, no vaccine, and a very low percentage chance of immunity. Second was the dispersal units which would spread the same serums in an aerosolized form to spread large distances. With such a large quantity the results would be random, some would develop like Romulus and Remus, and some would only be affected by the growth hormones but that was just an uncertainty she was willing to take.
Pushing a button in her office's wall a hidden window of a two-way mirror was revealed showing Romulus and Remus playing together on the other side with toys Reagan had given them. Looking at them Reagan was more assured of her actions once humanity was gone the next species will replace them and with that with a push of a button she changed the world forever.
That action had been a month ago and it all couldn't have gone better. Human society was on the run and she would only smile at the smoke coming from a distance, most likely the city of Las Vistas. Reagan had let Romulus and Remus go weeks ago, providing them with their favorite books and telling them how much she cared for both of them. Looking at the monitor Reagan saw an employee being mauled by a pack of mutated wolves in the hallway of her office. She just shrugged at this in acceptance she had known she was most likely not going live through this anyway and calmly took off her lab coat and walked outside. As the pack of wolves began running toward her the only thing Reagan could do was smile knowing that she had done the best thing for the world.