July 2071. La Fortaleza. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Unincorporated Territory of the United Nations of America.

“Well, that was a more difficult meeting than I thought it would be,” Liam sighed upon exiting the governor’s mansion.

“You were able to get more out of him than I thought you would,” Oskar answered with a shrug.

“It’s a fair deal, even if it’s weighted toward Puerto Rico for the short term,” Liam said quietly before shifting thoughts.”Where are we going next?”

Oskar paused as he simultaneously used his sunglasses to call their ride and pull up their itinerary for the day. As time went on, his role had evolved into a mixed bag. He was Liam’s driver, bodyguard, and closest confidant outside his family.

The CEO could’ve asked Apex to schedule his meetings and provide for his transportation, but he found that it was usually a better strategy to rely on Oskar as time passed. The synthetic intelligence wasn’t the magical entity he had imagined him to be less than a year ago. In fact, he was more akin to an average person–albeit with a data processing ability that put the world’s entire computing power to shame.

Unfortunately, Apex’s abilities were hindered by the infrastructure he had to operate through. The data center was relatively complete but still paled compared to what was available on the Priori ship or their homeworld.

The synthetic intelligence’s bandwidth was focused on carefully feeding and nurturing the technological progress of the company’s human staff. That involved thousands of simultaneous conversations requiring nuance, empathy, and careful probing.

Apex wasn’t just spitting out answers to questions. He carefully guided each researcher up the technological tree while leaving them room to come to their own conclusions and insights. It was a slower, more methodical approach, but Liam and his sister insisted it was the right way to maintain some autonomy from Priori influence.

That didn’t include the other tasks that required Apex’s attention. Each greenhouse had a copy of a subordinate intelligence, dubbed Demeter, that communicated with him for coordination and feedback. There were also the other innumerable subroutines that guided company technology down to even the vehicle that was driving itself to its position.

So, Liam could ask Apex to do all of these things, and Apex would prioritize his requests over others, but the leader couldn’t, in good conscience, ask him to say. Why distract the synthetic intelligence from the multitude of civilization-reforming tasks to ask him about the next item on his agenda when asking Oskar was just as efficient? Better yet, it fostered a sense of trust, duty, and loyalty in the younger man–benefits that couldn’t be articulated well on a spreadsheet.

“You’ve got a meeting with the head of the biotech division,” Oskar answered, pulling the CEO from his train of thought. “They’ve been light on the detail, but your sister will be there too, and she wouldn’t waste her time unless it were important.”

“Great, let’s check out whatever cool new thing the scientists have dreamed up,” he cheerfully replied as their transportation arrived.

Their ride for the day was the all-new Ward Model V. Liam had argued that it was a little presumptuous to name a non-existent car manufacturing subsidiary after their name, but his sister had claimed that most car companies were named after the founders, and he had relented when his father agreed.

“Man, I love this car,” Oskar commented as they walked toward the vehicle, which unlocked after verifying their identities.

“You don’t think it’s too much?” Liam frowned with one hand on the door handle.

Oskar grinned and gave his boss a side-eyed glance. “Too much? If things keep progressing the way they are, I imagine this will be the tamest of your rides.”

Liam considered the vehicle, his frown deepening. The younger man was probably right.

The Ward Model V was an exceptionally large and heavy SUV with a unique and angular body shape reminiscent of a stealth fighter jet. It had been custom-built from the ground up, incorporating the company’s advancement in materials science.

The exterior featured sharp lines, chiseled edges, and a bold, aggressive front grill, giving it a distinct and formidable presence on the road. There were no logos or badges, for the vehicle needed none. You could tell who made it just by looking at it.

The body was constructed from graphene and tungsten, ensuring strength and rigidity while minimizing weight. It boasted a sleek, matte black finish, contributing to its stealthy and tactical appearance.

The vehicle's dimensions made it one of the largest SUVs in the world. Although, this particular model wouldn’t be seeing mass markets for many years. A limited production of twelve had been constructed, mainly used as mobile offices and protection for Apex executives.

To that end, the Model V was practically bullet and blast-proof. It could take a shoulder-mounted rocket in the chin and still get the occupants to their destination, even if it wouldn’t look as pretty. Since it was networked to Apex, it could even make the journey if the occupants were completely incapacitated.

Liam stepped inside and immediately appreciated the perfectly climate-controlled interior. Puerto Rico wasn’t as sweltering as some places he had been, but the humidity certainly made the heat a challenge.

He took a seat in one of the only two rear passenger seats. They were luxuriously plush with synthetic leather upholstery and the ability to recline. The interior was spacious, almost the size of a small room, reflecting the overall larger SUV dimensions.

Every corner of it was packed with advanced technology, including high-end sound systems and holoemitters to project any form of entertainment or work project. Liam could genuinely run the company from the interior of the Model V.

Oskar climbed into the driver’s seat, and the vehicle took off practically silently due to its electric power and extensive high-capacity batteries.

Liam sat in the back of his luxurious SUV, his piercing gray eyes surveying the passing landscape. As the vehicle left behind the grandeur of La Fortexa, he couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast in the surroundings. In an advanced state of disrepair, buildings dotted the path they traveled, a somber reminder of the poverty that gripped the island.

From the tinted windows of his Model V, Liam saw the struggles and hardships etched into the weathered facades of the buildings. It struck a cord deep within him, reminding him of the war-torn and far-flung places he had frequented in his career. He finally had the opportunity to do something productive about it and wouldn’t miss the chance to manifest a better life for his planet. This drive pushed him to build Apex Industries into the behemoth it would someday be.

As they continued through the struggling confines of the city, he noticed the tenacity of the people who refused to be defined by their circumstances. Small shops and makeshift businesses were scattered around, each representing a giant middle finger to the pandemic and the imperial overseers who had left them to die. They were precisely the kind of people he wanted to recruit into Apex. They were the ones who would make a difference in their world and beyond.

After an hour of travel, they finally approached Las Croabas, and the atmosphere shifted. The signs of development and progress became evident as long-abandoned tourist resorts and decrepit community buildings were being torn down and replaced by new construction. Above it all, his heart swelled with pride as he saw the towering structure that bore his company's logo–Apex Industries HQ. It was a symbol of hope and progress rising amidst the decay.

Instead of approaching HQ, Oskar continued on until they researched an expansive research facility matching the company's design aesthetic. It was a squat structure with more floors belowground than above.

Its facade featured sleek matte black panels, graphene elements, and reflective glass, creating a sense of mystery and modernity. In contrast, the facilities surrounding were beautifully landscaped with carefully maintained gardens of local flora and expansive green spaces. They incorporated futuristic elements like geometric sculptures and strategically placed water features, adding a touch of elegance and softness to the hard lines of the building.

The entrance to the garage was marked by a massive, imposing door that glid silently open at their arrival. It was several inches thick, more at home in a secure military base than a corporate parking lot.

As the pair left their vehicle, a lighted guide highlighted itself in their HUDs, directing them where to proceed. Liam followed the instructions to a subtle, unlabeled elevator. Once inside, the lift verified their identities, and several selections were revealed on a holographic display. Liam assumed that he saw far more options than his bodyguard did.

Oskar selected their destination, and the elevator silently took them to the appropriate floor. When they stepped out, Liam noted the interior of the building was vastly different from its exterior. While Apex favored modern, almost brutalist designs in their exteriors, their interiors were more like the Priori.

The hallways were wide and brightly lit, with high-quality materials like a polished white marble equivalent for the floors and polished tungsten alloy for accents. Ambient lighting made the hallways inviting while accentuating the facility’s futuristic themes.

The facility's ambiance was only broken up by the parts still clearly under construction. The company simply hadn’t had the time to fully build out the majority of its facilities, but what was complete was breathtaking.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

The two men were forced to make their way around multiple teams of local construction workers. They were garbed in black longsleeved coveralls and matching work boots, with the logo of the Apex logistics department prominently displayed on their breasts.

As Liam walked by them, his implant picked up their identities and presented superficial details about what crew they were assigned with, what current projects they were working on, and their expected time until completion. The data was collected by the discreet security cameras and sensors embedded in every part of the building.

If he wanted to, he could focus on one of the workers and see a grade for how efficiently they worked compared to their peers, how many safety violations they had committed, and other details that would help assess overall performance. Fortunately for Liam, that wasn’t his job, so he merely glanced at them as he passed through.

Instead of arriving at a meeting room like he expected, they were guided to a futuristic laboratory with technology and cutting-edge equipment that couldn’t be found anywhere else. The lab was sleek, with minimalistic designs that featured ambient light. Parts of the walls could be configured to mirror the views of strategically placed exterior cameras, making it feel like the researchers were in a brightly lit room with a window view instead of an underground facility.

“How was the meeting?” His sister asked after he had entered.

“Carrasquillo is a tough leader but a good man,” he answered. “He gave us fifty square miles, but we’ll have to purchase them from the locals. I think that’ll give us everything on this side of the island from Palmer down to Naguabo.”

“So we’ve basically been given the entire eastern abutment of the island?” She clarified.

“Yeah, I don’t think he meant the national forest, so we’ll exclude that part,” Liam confirmed.

“That’s still plenty of space to accomplish what we need now. Eventually, we’ll have to build in space, which will take away the pressure of any size constraints,” Kayla commented.

“Oh, and another thing,” he added. “You’re probably already aware of the budding resistance to our efforts. I want to address some of that by maintaining a cultural identity in the land we’re occupying. We don’t want to rename everything, mandate English, and all that. Let’s try incorporating native heritage where we can, and Apex can account for the language differences.”

Kayla nodded, “Yeah, I’ve seen the security reports–isolated incidents, mostly.”

Liam shrugged. “Just some graffiti and occasional forceful interactions with our personnel. I don’t want that to escalate into something worse. We could be poking the dragon if it appears we’re trying to strip away the island's cultural identity.”

“Partners–not overlords,” Kayla said with a smile.

“Exactly,” Liam said before studying at the staff slowly assembling in front of the lab. “So, what are we going to be looking at?”

Kayla gestured to the foremost scientist in the group, a blond-haired man as tall as Liam with broad shoulders and an impressive build. He had striking Nordic features with a strong jawline accentuated by a well-groomed beard.

“Liam, meet Johan Holgersson. He’s the Head of our Biotech Division in my department.”

“Welcome, Mr. Ward,” Holgersson rumbled and held out a hand.

He shook the other man’s hand, impressed with the strength of his grip. He looked more like a warrior than a scientist, but appearances could always be deceiving.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Holgersson. How are you finding life in Apex?”

“Please, call me Johan,” the scientist replied with an easy-going grin.

“Only if you’ll call me Liam,” the CEO replied.

“Well, Liam, your employment has been a welcome surprise. When Genatech was bought out, I was worried our research would go unappreciated, but I’m happy to see that wasn’t the case. The facilities and the technology you’ve provided are the best I’ve ever worked with.”

There was a murmur of approval from the assembled scientists, and the division head looked around with a smile before continuing. “I can safely say that we’re all in agreement, and we’ve been working on some groundbreaking research.”

“I’m happy to hear that. We’re happy to have you here,” Liam complimented the team easily. “What are you going to show me today?”

“Let’s take a look,” Holgersson said before turning and moving through the crowd like a shark through a school of fish. The other scientists spread out in anticipatory silence as they focused on a central table with embedded holoprojectors.

Holgersoon manipulated the table with practiced ease to bring up a prepared presentation. He began to narrate as the display featured a wireframe diagram of the human body with floating representations of genes around it.

“Apex provided us data that we thought lost during the MERS-44 pandemic. You’re seeing the visualization of the raw genetic data from over ninety-five percent of the human population before the outbreak.”

Johan looked over his shoulder, “I expect the data came from several popular genetic testing companies during that time?”

Liam frowned in thought.

Apex, I’m assuming this is your doing?

Yes, Commander. Several commercial companies gathered genetic data to provide their services. Several companies of note in China were conducting gene editing research using CRISPR and other primitive technologies.

How did you get access to the data?

Your world governments don’t protect their data very well—even those that managed to make it through the pandemic. For the ones that didn’t, the data is practically there for the taking.

Liam couldn’t help but notice the cheerful tone of the synthetic intelligence before answering Johan’s question. “Among other sources. The pandemic hasn’t done much to encourage network security.”

The division head’s smile softened a bit. “Yes, it was hard on my country, too. We’re just now catching up with the damage that was done.”

“Still, his tone firmed. “This is a step forward, not a restoration of past biotech.”

He gestured at the presentation and manipulated some of the images. “Our division has identified the best-performing genes in the wider human genome and distilled them into a list of improvements across the board. We consider it the ideal genetic template for humans without affecting the distinctive variations contributing to qualities like eye, skin, and hair color.”

“What kind of improvements?” Liam watched the parade of images with a thoughtful frown.

“The eradication of genetic disease and obesity, for one,” Johan explained as if it were no big deal. “But beyond that, we expect an increase in overall IQ, on average, a lifespan extension by two decades, and a host of ancillary effects like better athletic performance, bone health, muscle adaptation, and other things. It’s a complete overhaul of the human body to express its maximum genetic potential.”

“Is it specific?” Liam asked. “Like, will it, for instance, make me a peerless swimmer?”

Johan shook his head. “No, most genes that produce outliers in particular activities usually have tradeoffs in others. For example, if I had a set of genes that augmented bodybuilding. Like genes encouraging hypertrophy, a reduction in fat storage, and relative strength, it would probably be at the expense of long-distance running. The large muscles would make you a less efficient runner, and the lack of fat to use as fuel could be potentially life-threatening.”

“I see,” Liam contemplated the ramifications. “So you’ve determined a human baseline in all of these categories and then found genes that increased these values without cutting against other values?”

“That’s exactly right,” the scientist confirmed.

“Well, that’s good news.” the CEO brightened. “Have we been able to operationalize it? How are we doing on testing?”

“That’s why you’re here,” Johan said with a grin. “We’re ready for our first human trial and your sister said you’d probably want to be the one.”

Liam shot a look at his sister. “She did, did she?”

“Don’t look at me like that,” she laughed. “You were the one who said this was one of our highest priorities. It isn’t my fault my department overperformed.

Is it safe? He asked Apex.

Apex chuckled, I wouldn’t have allowed this meeting if it weren’t. I guided their research in this direction. The technology is primitive compared to Priori standards, but it will do the job. I was driving them toward a solution for your father but projected you wouldn’t let him undergo treatment unless you had taken the risk first.

Liam had to admit the synthetic intelligence had predicted his reaction well. He wasn’t so old that any harmful effects from the biotech couldn’t be countered later by better technology. His father didn’t have the same amount of time. They might not develop a cure fast enough to fix the problems if something goes wrong.

“Okay,” Liam said aloud. “Explain the process to me.”

Johan manipulated the holoscreen and started to explain. “First, we’re going to implant you with a microscopic nanofactory. This factory will draw on the glucose in your body to manufacture and power a host of specialized nanites. They’ll edit the actual genes, replacing low-performing genes with their better-performing counterparts.”

“So I’ll need to eat a lot?” Liam asked.

“No,” Johan shook his head. “Unfortunately, the energy requirements are quite extreme. We’ll put you under sedation inside a pod filled with circulating water. You’ll be connected to lines monitoring your condition while providing the air and glucose necessary for the procedure.”

“Why the water?” Liam didn’t like being submerged while unconscious, no matter how many sensors he was hooked up to.

“The nanites generate heat while they work,” the scientist explained. “Since it’ll be happening across every cell of your body, that’s more heat than your body can naturally regulate. The water will act as a heat sink that we’ll use to keep your core temperature within allowable ranges.”

“And how long will this procedure take?”

“Approximately eight hours, but we’ll end the procedure if it exceeds that threshold to twelve. At that point, your skin will start to incur damage from the water. Although, the cold water should mitigate that problem.”

Liam’s face screwed up in confusion.

“Cold water seems to have less of an effect on the mechanical structure of the skin than warm,” Johan explained.

“And if you end the experiment early, what will happen to me?”

Johan turned and raised a placating hand. “I want to reinforce that twelve hours is far outside normal parameters. We’ll be taking a backup of your genome. Once the procedure reaches nine hours, we’ll revert the changes we made and restore you to your normal genetic template.”

Liam knew the procedure was probably safe, but he couldn’t help asking the questions that sprang to mind. He wouldn’t undergo an operation if the scientist who designed it was uncomfortable over questions surrounding its safety. So far, Johan was passing with flying colors. The confidence and calm demeanor of the scientist put him at ease.

“How has it been tested so far?”

“We’ve used animals for our testing and several cultured human organs to test the effects,” Johan assured him. “We’ve even simulated aging in our cultured tissues to see if there might be downstream complications from genes interacting. However, we’ve seen no evidence of this happening, probably because we aren’t making any drastic changes. It’s not like we’re introducing anything genetically foreign.”

“Okay, Liam sighed. “When do you want to do this?”

Johan grinned broadly. “We can do it today if you’re up for it. My team and I are excited to try. This will guide our research for the next one hundred years. The best part? We’ll be alive for that long!”