章 70: Genetic potential

The two teenagers paid for their meal and left. This time, they proceeded back with no hurry.

"Were you planning on returning all along?"

Michael scratched the back of his head, "No. I agreed with you even though I knew you were wrong. You looked so fierce!"

Anna's face brightened for a second, but then the corners of her lips hardened, "I'm sorry. I'll do my best to think things through next time."

They closed in on the crime scene, and Michael suggested they observe the situation from a safe place first. The area was full of policemen and spectators, so showing their faces carelessly could bring trouble. At least twenty people crowded in front of the convenience store, with most of them feeling brave enough only after the police arrived.

"There's a playground nearby. The view should be good."

There were two juvenile delinquents occupying the swings and drinking beer. Michael frowned, those guys would get in the way.

"Gentlemen, would you mind? We've had a long day."

"Wah? Hello, beautiful," one delinquent whistled, "Come sit on my lap."

Talking things out with them was impossible. And Anna, maturing into a striking young woman, was a magnet for trouble.

Michael stepped forward, "Why don't I sit with you?"

He grabbed the snickering delinquent's head and bashed it against the metal swing bar.

"What the shit!" his friend jumped down and fell from a powerful straight kick to the waist. With so much pure strength, Tai Chi moves were not needed to deal with some hooligans.

"Get out of here!" Michael yelled. He ran after them for a few seconds, kicking their behinds, and then returned to see Anna grinning.

"I should hire you as my bodyguard."

"You can't afford me."

They sat on the swings and observed the goings-on at the store.

The large man was still unconscious after he'd almost dented the wall with his body. But the medics woke up the store clerk, and words were pouring out of his mouth. Michael couldn't hear anything from afar, though it turned out to be a good idea not to come closer – the clerk could identify them on the spot. He was gesturing like crazy, pointing at his shoulder and at the robber, imitating faces and sounds.

"I can't see!" Anna stretched her neck. She gave up and started swinging. Richard was wagging his tail and whimpering in a mix of fright and excitement.

"It's all right. I can." Michael told her what was going on.

"How can we do anything? We'll get apprehended as soon as we come closer."

Michael nodded, "I'm just waiting to see if my theory is right."

A few minutes later, a cavalcade of black SUVs arrived, and a dozen people jumped out. Six soldiers dressed in camouflage and armed with rifles surrounded the unconscious robber. Several more people in more casual attire blocked the crowd and asked them to disperse.

Michael waved at Anna and ran closer, just enough to hear the voices. He hid behind a corner and concentrated on the important-looking imposing man in an expensive suit who approached the clerk.

"Special agent Weismann," he flashed some sort of a badge to a policeman, "Please, sir, describe what happened once again. I promise, this will be the last time, and we'll get out of your hair."

"Good. You deal with this psycho!" spit the cop, gathered his subordinates and left.

The clerk walked Weismann through the scene. Michael chuckled at the small details the clerk remembered. He seemed so scared with a gun pointed at him but turned out to be rather observant.

"What is happening?" Anna asked from behind.

"Swiss intelligence is here. Special agent Weismann. It's as I thought."

"What?"

"Have you noticed the strange news reports? Fires, kidnappings, disappearances? I began paying attention after your hallucinations. It means other evolvers like us are coming into their own."

"Mm," the girl nodded, "But the reporters are clueless. Wait, so…"

"The governments are trying to cover it up. These are superpeople we're talking about, a new type of strategic resource. They already know about superpowers, and likely have been studying them or recruiting early awoken evolvers all this time."

Anna's breathing got louder, and her friend could tell she was distraught.

"This is to be expected. Which developed country doesn't want a larger piece of the pie at the world arena? I can imagine they're experimenting on people. It's good we're not in Russia right now, our country doesn't have the best track record with human rights."

This world was different from Michael's old world, but it developed in the same general direction. Russia was trying to appear friendly, providing help to poor countries and building EIS, but who knew what happened behind closed doors?

"Now that the government has stepped in, we can't do anything. But don't worry, they know he has powers, so they know how to deal with him."

Anna was looking at the robber with a scowl. Michael's words left a deep impression on her, and she was torn between pushing off the responsibility for the man's crimes onto the government and bearing it herself.

The cultivator patted her shoulder in a show of support and suggested they go home.

Richard barked, eager to see "home". Was it tasty? He closed his small beady eyes, his tongue lolling out of his mouth. As he imagined the taste of "home", his expression was akin to a happy smile.

"Look, Richard wants to go home too!" Anna giggled. Michael gathered the bags, and they walked to the next bus station because this one was too close to the crime scene.

The trip lifted their mood. The puppy was so full of life, his antics were contagious. Michael's heart softened, and he accepted that Richard was going to stay.

Anna sighed, "I still can't believe humans are evolving. It goes against everything Darwinian. In one generation, in half a year, presenting traits no one had encountered before. Just where was the comet from? Are you sure we're evolving, and not something else?"

"Definitely. Our genetic potential was stimulated," Michael's memory offered him Glory's exact words.

"Dummy, that's not right. Genetic potential means the limit of humans' physical performance, determined at birth. Or… wait a minute."

Anna stopped. Michael who was one step ahead turned back to see her chewing on her lips in thought. Richard lifted one ear as if wondering why they chose this place to make camp. Where was home? He was hungry.

"Genetic potential is normally set in stone. The finest athletes and Olympic games medalists are said to reach or approach the limit of their potential. But what if this comet changed the limits we've been given at birth? If there are no more restrictions on how strong humans can grow?"

Michael caught on right away, "You're talking about an evolutionary genetic potential?"

"Yes! If the comet granted the same opportunity to every man and woman in the world, the ones who will benefit the most would be… teenagers! Those who are still growing, whose bodies are developing."

"So, most evolvers will be teens?"

"Exactly. Same age as us. Younger children are less likely to come into their own until puberty."

The cultivator frowned, "Are you sure?"

"What's wrong?"

"That's terrible news. Not all young people are like us, mature and responsible. Many have issues with their looks, weight, self-esteem. They are gullible and reckless. I don't want to see an army of child soldiers on someone's payroll."

"And EIS will get lively," added Anna, "as will any school."

"Graves will take care of it. I'm more concerned about other places. The X-men comics are full of tragedies caused by racism and intolerance."

Richard barked, his tummy rumbling. Be it "home" or "intolerance", he was fine with eating anything at this point. Two friends continued on their way to please His Majesty the puppy.

"We can talk about this all day, but in the end, if the governments don't tell people the truth, that will cause more problems than anything."

Michael agreed with the girl, but there was no way for him to help. Or, rather, Anna's theory supplied him with one method he would never use. After all, he wasn't like those comic book heroes who sacrificed themselves for the greater good. As long as his family and friends were safe, that was enough.