"The quest for perfection in the human race is not about achieving an ideal state, but about pushing the boundaries of what we believe is possible."
- Victor Krane, Genesis: The Awakening

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The DYG Institute loomed against the barren Nevada desert, its sleek glass facade shimmering under the unforgiving sun, as if defying the desolation around it. Inside, the hum of technology whispered secrets that the world beyond those walls could never imagine. The facility was reputed as America's premier center for genetic research. The surrounding landscape, barren and desolate, served as a stark contrast to the bustling activity within its walls.

Lisbeth Kane, a poised and competent woman with striking figure in her mid-thirties, maneuvered her sleek black car through the security gates of the Institute, the vehicle's tinted windows revealing nothing of her inner thoughts. As she parked in the reserved spot, she took a deep breath and stepped out. Standing at about 5'8" with a lean, athletic build, her presence commanded attention. Her dark, wavy hair was pulled back into a practical ponytail, highlighting her sharp, intelligent green eyes.

As she stepped out of her car, her olive skin and tailored suit-an elegant blend of professionalism and understated sophistication-stood out against the stark concrete of the facility. Her heels clicked decisively against the ground, and her minimal yet stylish accessories subtly hinted at her refined taste.

The facility's security team greeted her with nods and brief acknowledgments, their uniforms crisp and their expressions unreadable. She responded with polite smiles, her mind focused on the day ahead.

With practiced ease, Kane ascended the grand staircase that led to the main offices. The marble floors and polished brass railings gave the impression of a place where every detail mattered. She passed by various researchers and staff members, all immersed in their tasks, their murmurs and footsteps creating a symphony of industry.

At the top of the stairs, Kane approached Victor's Krane office, only to find it empty. A note on the desk directed her to the lab. She made her way there, her anticipation growing with each step. The lab was a hub of frenetic activity, a world of white coats and glass vials, where the air was charged with the hum of advanced machinery.

Krane was at the center of this whirlwind, his focus intense as he manipulated a series of controls on a sophisticated piece of equipment. Krane cut an imposing figure, towering at 6'2" with broad shoulders that seemed to absorb the room. His dark hair, streaked with gray at the temples, was immaculately groomed, matching the precision in his movements. A well-trimmed beard outlined his chiseled jaw, accentuating eyes that gleamed with cold, calculated brilliance. His steel-blue eyes, often intensified by a pair of wire-rimmed glasses, conveyed a sense of intensity and sharp intellect. He was dressed in an impeccably tailored lab coat over a dark suit, blending professional elegance with practical functionality. Kane cleared her throat softly, causing Krane to look up. His eyes, sharp and calculating, softened as they met hers.

"Good morning, Lisbeth I see you've brought my coffee," Krane said, a hint of amusement in his voice as he moved towards her with graceful ease.

"Couldn't start the day without it," Kane replied with a smirk, handing him the steaming cup. "Ready for your daily dose of excitement?"

"I think I already had that," Viktor chuckled, taking the coffee with a grateful nod likely referring to whatever experiment he had worked on earlier.

"Whatever," Kane muttering lightly, rolling her eyes.

Taking a sip from his cup, Krane paused before speaking again. "Shall we?"

They left the laboratory and attendants inside as they walked together to the elevator, a sleek, high-tech contraption that descended silently into the depths of the facility. As the doors slid shut, Krane's face took on a more serious expression as he continued sipping his coffee. The elevator's soft hum and the dim lighting provided an atmosphere of secrecy and anticipation.

The underground facility was a stark contrast to the pristine main building. The air was cooler, tinged with a faint metallic scent, and the walls were lined with reinforced steel. Security was noticeably tighter here, with biometric scanners and armed guards at strategic points. The few who worked here moved with a purposeful efficiency, their faces masked behind high-tech visors.

Krane led Kane through a series of secure doors until they reached a heavily fortified lab. Each door they passed hissed shut behind them with a cold finality, as if sealing away secrets meant to stay buried. Kane's heartbeat quickened with every step as Krane's silence stretched between them, his calm, deliberate pace at odds with the growing sense of dread in the air. He discarded his cup in the nearby bin outside before walking in.

Inside, a teenager labelled with the serial A-008 lay strapped to a bed in a sterile room. The girl, labeled only as A-008, lay still on the cold steel bed, her slight frame bound by leather restraints that seemed oversized against her delicate wrists and ankles. Her skin was pale, almost translucent under the fluorescent lighting, with a faint sheen of sweat coating her forehead. Dark, wavy hair cascaded around her head, damp and tangled, sticking to her cheeks and neck as if it hadn't been washed in days. The contrast between her blonde hair and her ghostly complexion only heightened the sense of fragility about her.

Her face, though gaunt, still held traces of the youth she was clinging to-high cheekbones that stood out prominently, a small nose, and full lips that were chapped and slightly parted, as if caught between sleep and wakefulness. Dark circles had formed under her closed eyes, deepening the hollows beneath them and making her look older than her sixteen years. Her long eyelashes rested against her cheeks, giving her an almost peaceful look, despite the clear strain her body had endured.

Her arms, thin and marked with small puncture wounds and bruises, lay at her sides, restrained by straps. Her fingers were long and slender, though they twitched occasionally, as if in response to something unseen. Beneath the thin medical gown, her slight figure bore the scars of the experiments-faint lines along her ribs and across her abdomen, remnants of the invasive procedures she had been subjected to.

She was tall for her age, with long limbs that, under different circumstances, might have given her the graceful appearance of someone destined for something more normal-athletics or dance, perhaps. But here, in this cold, sterile room, she seemed more like a fragile experiment, the promise of youth twisted by the cruelty of the Genesis project.

Despite her fragile state, there was something captivating about her-an aura of potential, as if the project had unlocked a hidden power within her. Even in her weakened state, she exuded an unnerving sense of strength waiting to be unleashed.

The teen's eyes remained shut as the medical apparatus around her beeped in steady intervals, monitoring vital signs and experimental data.

Kane's gaze lingered on the young subject, a mixture of empathy and clinical detachment in her eyes. Krane, adjusting his lab coat, began discussing the results with an air of professional pride.

"We're making progress," Kane said, her voice steady. "But as you can see, the results are still not quite what we hoped for. It's not perfect yet."

Krane nodded, absorbing the information. "We're close, though. The improvements are significant."

"She hasn't been sleeping or eating-probably still adapting to the environment", Kane added as she lifted her eyes from the girl to the monitor. Her emotions were not obvious as her face was plain.

"Ah I see--", Krane nodded, continuing his analysis

"We'll keep her doses. She's new here; she'd need time to adapt. Also processes are slow for now as her past memories are just fragments in her mind", Kane added with a sigh.

"She'll be fine, she's part of the most superior group, she has potential", Krane reassured her with a smile.

"I believe I have to head back to the main facility. The doctors would handle the remaining subjects later", Kane said, turning on her heels to leave.

As Kane exited, Krane continued his analysis, eventually retreating to his private office in the underground lab, a space filled with files, digital screens, and an air of deliberate secrecy.

His attention shifted to the files on his desk, specifically those labelled with the names of teenagers involved in the Genesis project; the ones he had asked Derek to fetch for him. They were old files him and Clara had found before-well these were the revised up to date ones. He sighed as he sat and got to work, flipping pages and papers, going through data on each teenager.

Dr Krane had worked on teenagers because they were more adaptable, those selected had superior genes making them ideal subjects for the project. He sighed and dropped the files as he hadn't found what he was looking for-perfection. They were all good, they were near it but they weren't exactly. He dropped his head low before leaning on his chair in exasperation. When was this project find what he really needed. He rubbed his temples before going to check through the files.

Dr. Krane paced between the files, the hum of moving papers the only sound accompanying his frantic movements. He had been scrutinizing endless genetic reports, each promising but ultimately falling short of his grand vision. His search for the perfect subject had led him through countless profiles, each one a mere step towards his ultimate goal. Until now.

His eyes settled on a particular file labeled Smith, Maya. The name was familiar-he had seen it before but had dismissed it as irrelevant. Today, however, something compelled him to delve deeper. As he opened the file, his breath caught in his throat.

The data was startling. Every marker, every genetic sequence, told a story of extraordinary potential. Maya Smith wasn't just another subject. She was a breakthrough-a true anomaly.

Krane's heart raced as he absorbed the details. The unique genetic traits exhibited by Maya were beyond anything he had previously encountered. She embodied the pinnacle of human evolution, the missing piece he had been tirelessly searching for.

He stood still, his mind racing through the implications. With Maya's genes, he could forge a new era of humanity-the perfected race he had envisioned. This wasn't merely a scientific breakthrough; it was the realization of his deepest ambitions.

His thoughts turned bitterly to Clara Smith. Clara. The woman who had once been his partner in this grand experiment, who had abandoned their shared vision. Her departure had always been a source of frustration for him, and now, it seemed almost poetic that her own daughter would become the key to his ultimate success. Clara's betrayal stung even more sharply in light of Maya's discovery. If Clara had stayed, she might have shared this triumph with him. Instead, Krane would have to seize this opportunity alone, without the aid of his former colleague.

The thought of Clara's disapproval and her missed chance to witness this breakthrough added a layer of satisfaction to his victory. Maya's genetic perfection was his alone to harness. He had no intention of letting her potential be compromised by external forces or rival interests.

Krane's fingers lingered on the cold metal of the vault as he slid the file inside. His thoughts spiraled, weaving together plans and contingencies, each more daring than the last. He had found the missing piece. Now, there would be no stopping him. He needed to ensure that she remained under his control, that her superior genetics would be fully realized according to his vision.

As he left the lab, a twisted smile spread across his face. Maya Smith-a name that had once seemed insignificant now represented everything he had ever strived for.

"Clara," he murmured with a hint of disdain, "you were wrong to leave. But it's your daughter who will bring about the future you failed to see."

Krane's lab is a prison of white walls and endless calculations, the hum of machines filling the silence. He left the paper files and moved to the screen in front of him. He stands over a digital interface, his fingers tapping feverishly on the glass. His eyes flicker with the glow of the screen, but there's something more unsettling in his gaze - a glint of obsession, probably over his new discovery? Couldn't quite say.

"We were so close, Clara. So close. You just didn't see it." Krane muttered to himself as his thoughts wandered again.

The room feels hollow without Clara. She had been more than a partner, more than a colleague. She had been the voice of reason, the one who could ground him when his visions stretched too far. But she left. She walked away from everything they built together - from him.

He exhales sharply, anger creeping into his expression."You let fear win." Krane muttering as he stared at Maya's data further

*Krane's mind drifts back to their last argument. Clara had seen his relentless pursuit of perfection as dangerous. Unethical, she called it. She accused him of crossing lines that shouldn't be crossed, of trying to control what shouldn't be controlled. But Krane had never understood why. They were scientists - they had to push boundaries.

T"his isn't discovery, Krane. This is an obsession. You'll destroy yourself." That's what Clara had said to him.

His jaw tightens, her words echoing in his mind, feeding the resentment that had festered since she left. She couldn't see the potential, couldn't understand that what he was doing was bigger than both of them. She was stuck in just trying to find cures while he could see the bigger picture.

"I'll prove you wrong." Krane muttered quietly to himself.

He moves back to the console, his hands trembling slightly as he types in a series of commands. The screen fills with data - the culmination of months of work, all without Clara's input. Maybe it would have been different if she'd stayed. Maybe she would have tempered his ambition. But now, it was just him. And he was determined to succeed - with or without her.

Maya Smith would become the embodiment of his greatest achievement, and Krane would ensure that her potential was fully realized under his watchful eye. She would be the ultimate testament to his work, the crowning glory of his relentless pursuit of perfection.

"I'll be keeping a very close eye on you Maya" Krane murmured, a determined glint in his eyes.

As the day's light dimmed outside, the DYG Institute remained a beacon of ambition and secrecy, its true nature concealed beneath layers of steel and secrecy. In the shadows of its underground depths, the wheels of a new and uncertain future began to turn.

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And yasssss!!! We have chapter one.
Sorry I'm posting this late though, I had to edit and edit all over again.

Anyways what do you guys think????
We've seen a better insight in Kane. What do you think of Krane? The facility? His obsession with perfection of the Human race? More importantly who is Maya Smith? Read more to find out!

Also I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

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Chapters would be updated on Sundays and Thursdays.

Any other day would be announced eventually.

For now, bye guys!

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Muah!💋
~Rhoda