00:00, 05-31-20XX
A gray haired young woman in pressed slacks and a loose button shirt sits at a coffee table away from the windows, but near a loud television screen. She sips a cup of hot chocolate and munches on a giant chocolate muffin while cradling a teddy bear in a butler’s suit in her lap.
On the television screen, a handsome news anchor and pretty anchor sit across from a table interviewing, a Sanguniem Vorpal otherwise known as Draculin or Vampire. The members of S.V. were one of the three alternative evolutionary groups introduced to humanity on 05-07-20XX, which was now being called the Happening. The space energy gathering had been nothing more than a massive light show that only happened every few thousand years, but had caused a worldwide, global mass panic. The first world countries swiftly took control and calmed the public, but in other countries, riots emerged throughout the world even leading to dictators being over thrown by panicked rebellion.
In the midst of all this chaos, the alternative homo-evolutionarily members of Earth finally came out from the shadows of the world. The Sanguniem Vorpal was one of the groups that emerged that day with two alternative groups emerging as well, Espers and Changelings. Esper’s were regular everyday humans who had un-quantum-able abilities such as being able to predict future events, pyrokinesis and many more other abilities.
The Changelings were humans with superior strength and reflexes, who had the ability to transform into animals such as a wolf or crow. The Changelings lived in packs, but specifically that of their own kind. Which meant, that among themselves, they lived according to the type of creatures they were, Avian, Felines, Canines, etc. On the other hand, the members of the scientific community were overjoyed by the alternative evolutionary paths of Homo-Sapiens.
“Thank you for being here with us, Arthur is here representing the three groups of humans that we weren’t aware existed,” the female news anchor known as Diane sincerely said.
“No, it is my pleasure,” Arthur crisply said in a melodic voice. The golden-haired man with bright green eyes smiles charmingly causing many of the female viewers to sigh with bliss.
“I am given to understand that you are what we call a Vampire,” the male new anchor known as Bob commented.
“Yes, Bob. Vampire is one of the many names given to my kind, but we prefer to be called Sangunieum Vorpal,” Arthur politely replied.
“Thank you, Arthur, for that political correction.” Diane pointedly said, while glaring at Bob, her co-host. “However, for our viewer's sake, we’ve some questions they would like to ask. This is from Trudy. Is it true like all myths, that your kind is immortal and can turn a human into a vampire with a single bite?” Diane somewhat embarrassed read out loud.
Arthur smiles nonchalantly at the idiotic question. “No, we are very much cousins to Homo-Sapiens. Our ancestor along the evolutionary route had a hemoglobin deficiency and tragically passed it down to the children. As a result, their descendants required blood to exist, which are the answers to the night blood suckers of the night. I can assure you we have very much evolved with the times and now-a-day's, we merely need to drink a blood bag once a month to survive. I can assure you, that we aren’t the blood sucking terrors of yesterday.
As for the question asked, no, on both accounts. We Sangunieum Vorpal live just as long as a regular human, but upon becoming an adult we stop aging. A Sanguniemu Vorpal can live up to be a 150 years old, but that is the oldest age we ever reach. And as for reproduction, we reproduce the old-fashioned way, we have babies with another member of the opposite gender of any group of Homo-evolutionary group,” Arthur calmly stated.
Bob looks flabbergasted, while Diane looks interested at the reply. “Then you mean to say, that any female is eligible?” Diane triumphantly asked.
“Yes, but first you have to buy me dinner, Diane,” Arthur said with a roguish twinkle in his eyes. Diane fans herself as female viewers all dreamily blush at the comment.
Bob clears his throat, before saying, “Thank you, Arthur. However, our viewers are curious to learn more about the other two groups that emerged during the Happening, the Esper’s and the Changelings.”
“Esper’s, well, to be precise scientists of the Esper community still don’t understand the science behind it. Esper’s simply are normal humans who have impossible quantifiable abilities. A normal family can suddenly produce an Esper, while an Esper family can produce a normal human. Geneticists have yet to find a single DNA marker indicating the gene for the Esper ability. For now, we can’t say if it is the next step for Homo-Sapiens evolutionary track or if it is simply a dormant trait from ancient times that awakens upon meeting a circumstance to preserve itself,” Arthur firmly said as Bob furrows his brows unhappily at the response.
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Arthur hides a smile and continues, “Changelings are a bit simpler and less complicated to explain. It is widely believed by members of our scientific community that Changelings are a divergent descendant from a polymorph Esper. The Esper gene by some twist of fate became permanent, the ability to polymorph into that of an animal, but with the condition being solely of one animal. Which would coincide with the theory of Esper abilities being, an ancient genetic trait used as means of self-preservation.
In human form, Changelings are like regular humans but with some of their animal traits carried over, usually strength, agility or excellent senses. Other than that, there isn’t much of a change. They won’t suddenly grow claws even if they are Changelings that are predators when they’re human, they are merely human not a costumed hero who grows razor blades from his knuckles.
Even when Changelings turn into their wild beast form, there is nothing to fear. They still retain a portion of their consciousness and do not attack humans. Changelings are aware of their surroundings and are able to react accordingly even in animal form. I can assure you, there is nothing to fear from either them or any of us. We are merely humans with allergies and special conditions, that’s all.”
The cameras switch to the clapping and whistling public on the scene as the young woman at the cafe table glances up at the older man in a crisp designer suit and shoes. The older gentlemen glances at his watch being spotting the young woman who raises her hand in the air. The elegant gentleman strides to the café table hiding a frown at being asked to meet in such a public place.
The older gentlemen frowned as he takes a seat at the stool and keeps his hands off the no doubt filthy table. The gentlemen placed his briefcase on the table and removed a folder from within holding legal contents to be signed. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Victoria Starr, daughter and heir to Atlas Starr. I am McAlister, your father’s personal attorney,” the older man said with a British accent.
“Yes, I know,” #017 flatly replied.
McAlister nods and says, “With your father’s death and after heir’s taxes, and so forth, you are the inheritor to $6 Billion dollars broken down into several bank accounts. There are also several similar worth Investing Funds and Trust Funds including thousands of stocks and company majority ownerships.
The remnant slow moving portfolios include a diamond and gold mine, various homes around the world, a private commercial airline including pilot and staff, and several parcels of land and real estate. Do you wish to have any items of the slow porfolio sold and if so which?
Also per Atlases prior and after-death instructions, all information of your existence in any official government capacity or pertaining to that of the Organization have been carefully redacted or completely erased. You now only exist as Victoria Starr, the daughter of Atlas Starr. As for any repercussions from any other organization or individual, there shan’t be any as they have been permanently taken care of. And should any information or person have passed us by, we will be more than glad to handle it out of courtesy to your father’s memory.
Are there any questions?”
#017 is silent for a moment, before tactfully answering, “Where do I sign?”
McAlister points to the dotted lines as #017 signs and dates fulfilling all the requested paperwork. McAlister happily gathers his papers, before handing her a card with his information. “Call me anytime and I will answer, should you need anything. And I must say it has been a pleasure to meet you again, Miss Starr. But firstly, I apologize for my rudeness in being so tardy with my condolences, you have my most sincere belated condolences for your loss.” #017 doesn’t respond as McAlister closes his briefcase and happily trots out of the café.
#017 had lost all appetite for her snack pushes her food away and stands up. Rather than leaving through the front door, she hands the employee at the counter $100 and leaves via the employees back door. #017 emerges into the back alleyway and makes her way from there.
A while later, Mr. Wilkins finally says, “So we’re now billionaires, what are we going to do now?”
“Donate to the Red Cross and orphanages across the world a sizable donation. And then open a book store and computer café,” #017 firmly replied.
Mr. Wilkins is silent for a moment before saying, “Why a bookstore?”
“I have no interest in seeing the rest of world, I’ve seen enough in my lifetimes to last me a lifetime. I just want some peace and quiet,” #017 grumbled back.
Mr. Wilkins sniffs and replies, “For some reason, I get the feeling that won’t last.”
#017 shrugs, “True, but nothing ever does. But nevertheless, I intend to enjoy it as long as it lasts.”
Mr. Wilkins nods and says, “Yeah, peace and quiet would be nice. But first, I want a sports car.”
“Why do you need a sports car? You can’t even drive!” #017 incredulously shrieked.
“It’s the principle of things. If you suddenly get a wind fall of money, you gotta go and blow it on something stupid like babes and booze, and since I can’t do either of those, I want a sports car,” Mr. Wilkins firmly said.
“Wait, where did you learn to speak like that? Where you on internet forums again?” #017 growled. Mr. Wilkins doesn’t response tactfully remaining stubbornly silent.
#017 sighs and says, “Fine. But I’m not letting you drive unless I’m with you.”
Mr. Wilkins grudgingly grunts in acceptance as they reach their current temporally home, an out of the way bed and breakfast. It was homey and comfy at a personal level. After all, tomorrow, they were going shopping for a home!