[ WP ] For the last 15 years humans have been able to manipulate our genes . Picking and choosing what we want our children to look like as well as other attributes . As of the last few days it is now becoming apparent across the globe this was not a good idea .

*Series of TV sound bites* 
 
 “ —being hailed as a miracle of modern science— “ 
 
 “ —involves injecting the fetus in-utero with— “ 
 
 “ —Is your baby going to be the next Einstein? Why not make it so with— “ 
 
 “ —So you mean to tell me that you couldn ’ t take the chance that your daughter would be ugly? ” “ No— “ 
 
 “ —At what point are we no longer bettering humanity, but rather playing God? — “ 
 
 “ —teenage literacy at all-time high— “ 
 
 “ —The string of attacks on medical clinics has been linked to an organization known as God ’ s True Path. They have been targeting clinics that specifically offer the genetic modification used by approximately 88 % of families worldwide— “ 
 
 “ —Crime has continued to rise, baffling police and public officials as it appears contrary to the rise in literacy and basic education. Gene Babies are responsible 98 % of the time— “ 
 
 “ —It is considered to be the first major terrorist attack since 9/11, when a 10 year old boy detonated a concealed device at a Presidential rally. Experts are still baffled by the boys ability to sneak the device in, as well as who forced him to do it— “ 
 
 “ —Fighting is breaking out in the United Kingdom after another terrorist attack attributed to God ’ s True Path has crippled the Parliament, leaving more than half the members dead, or in critical condition— “ 
 
 “ —Doctors are baffled by the new virus that has claimed approximately 30 % of the adult population in the North American continent, with numbers expected to rise. God ’ s True Path claims to have manufactured the virus— “ 
 
 “ —Children have been seen taking to the streets with guns, shooting anyone who appears over the age of 40— “ 
 
 “ —Could this be the end of -- *cut to static* -- “ 
 
 **Five Years Later** 
 
 Who knew that our own children would be our downfall? We did the best we could to give them everything they might need. We made them stronger, faster, smarter, and better looking than we had ever been. Most children were learning calculus by middle school before The Collapse started. Who knew that our children manufactured it? It was too late now, there was no turning back. 
 
 Lifting up my head from the jail floor, I tried to peer into the darkness beyond the bars. They left the lights off usually. It didn ’ t bother them since their night vision was far superior to anything I had. I could hear the pitter-patter of childlike feet running around the jail, with the occasional scream followed by a giggle. 
 
 Suddenly I heard the patter of soft feet coming closer to my cell. Putting my head back down I waited, hoping the feet would pass, but knowing they wouldn ’ t. A clatter of keys, the sound of the door sliding open, and I knew my turn had come. 
 
 A young girl ’ s voice said, “ On your feet cock-sucker. ” 
 
 Lifting my head I saw a 12 year old girl holding an assault rifle on me. She had to have been a better version of her leaders, probably rising through the ranks very quickly if she was allowed to escort prisoners without help. She would either be taking me to the scientists for more experiments, or the execution chamber. I prayed that this time it would be the chamber, but when we turned left instead of right, I knew it would not be. 
 
 Walking slowly down the halls I stole glances left and right, catching the eyes of others like me; men and women who had the misfortune of being too old to be modified. They were all herded in like cattle after the children had finally succeeded in destroying our will to fight. We had hoped for benevolent dictators; instead we got millions of Hitler ’ s. 
 
 Many of the people in here were left over simply because they were fortunate enough to have a gene the children wanted. Whether it was better hair, better eyes, more tolerance to cancer, or God knows what, we were kept alive for their betterment. All the while we kept the full knowledge that once our bodies gave up their secrets, we would be executed and burned. 
 
 Turning into the Science Lab I hesitated just long enough at the door to receive a gunstock in my back for my efforts. I stumbled in and looked at ‘ Doctor ’ Grayson Peterson, age 17. 
 
 “ Hello, Jack, ” He said to me, reading off a file. “ Would you have a seat please? ” 
 
 I smiled at him, pretending to enjoy the familiarity before I sat down in the chair. 
 
 He flipped through some pages on the clipboard before setting it down and looking at me. “ Today we ’ re going to do some more blood and marrow draws. Unfortunately, we ’ re also going to need to do a spinal tap, ” and he smiled wide at his use of the word ‘ unfortunately. ’ 
 
 The girl started strapping me in place to make sure I didn ’ t move and damage my ‘ precious cargo. ’ No point in killing me because then I could no longer provide samples. 
 
 Putting on gloves, Dr. Peterson started prepping his lab equipment. “ Once we get everything out of the way, we ’ ll pump you up with enough drugs to keep you from feeling pain for a few days. ” 
 
 “ Why? ” I asked, finally brave enough, or broken enough, to risk a question. 
 
 Dr. Peterson paused, “ Why? Why what? ” 
 
 I grimaced, “ Why keep me alive, you hack? ” 
 
 Dr. Peterson stopped his preparations and walked over to where I was. “ We have to keep you alive, Jack. Killing you would solve nothing. ” 
 
 “ You ’ re already in control, ” I spat, “ Why not just kill us all? Do you need to better yourself that much more? ” 
 
 Dr. Peterson and the girl looked at each other for a moment, turned back to me, and started laughing. He laughed so hard he had to steady himself, while she had to take a seat by the door. 
 
 “ Better ourselves? My dear, sweet fool, we ’ re not doing this for ourselves, we ’ re doing this for everyone, ” he said. 
 
 I stared at him, and for the first time I saw, really saw, his eyes. They were the eyes of an old man inside the body of a child; eyes that had seen too much, or not enough, in their lifetime. I looked to the girl and saw the same thing: a mind that was trapped by the body it bore. 
 
 Peterson walked back over to his instruments, threw off his current gloves and put on new ones. “ You see, Jack, mankind was headed for extinction. ” Picking up a long syringe and walking back over to me he added, “ We did the calculations, within 50 years the Earth would be unsustainable. You were still over 100 years from viable asteroid harvesting and space travel, and the population was exploding. ” 
 
 Peterson nodded to the girl, and she walked over and began rotating me on the bed. He tapped the syringe a moment, and then paused, “ We ’ re doing this for everyone. We need to find better ways to grow food, to live with the Earth. Another lab is researching photosynthesis within humans. We ’ re trying to find ways to unlock the hidden potential of humanity, a potential that you bred out through either design, or accident. ” Tapping the needle again, he slammed it home at the base of my spine, “ We are trying to return to God ’ s true path, with a little help from our parents. ” 
 
 When I woke up two days later from a severe fever, I noticed that I had been given better accommodations. I began to think that maybe Peterson had been right, that the Earth and humanity itself was in peril. At least until I saw the guards escorting a younger ‘ scientist ’ through the cells to get a different patient. When he and his guards looked at me with a cold hatred, I wondered if maybe the rumors about fetal pain had been true.
