Death by Design

[kindaemissary]

there will be later editing, but for now this is what we have to work with.

Vital Monumental has to, in no way, shape, or form, tell a client about any post-modification problems or consequences without being asked about the post-affects. Anything after the genetic altering is a matter of personal matters. Vital Monumental will not cover any medical or hospital bills or funeral costs, etc..

By creating a genetically modified human being, Vital Monumental can guarantee a healthy, intelligent, and loving life for your upcoming child. When VM works with your genome, as well as your partners, we can establish the perfect DNA splice for your child to have. If you do not have a partner, we will work with you for finding the best match possible to create the most perfect specimen for you. Vital Monumental will be by your side during the entire process to make sure your best interests are at the forefront of this project.

VITAL MONUMENTAL

It's the year 2203 and science has developed so extensively over the years that geneticists can alter human DNA to fit a parent's wants and wishes for their soon-to-be-born baby. Without the knowledge that their children are practically ticking time bombs, parents pay good chunks of money to have the perfect child, only to have to pay much more money later one when they learn that without a certain kind of medication, their child(ren) will die before or by the age of twenty-one.

 

[kindaemissary]

Watching his best friend's eyes roll back into his skull, hands clutch desperately at his throat, and blood pool out from his mouth was not how Beckett wanted to spend his friday night, least of Maverick's birthday.


Not a lot of people knew about the extensions that came with buying altered genomes from the company Vital Monumental, and Beckett was one of them. He didn't even know what Vital Monumental did, actually. He had thought about applying there for an internship or practicum for his next semester because they were the best biochemistry company in the country, and with Beckett's technical background, he figured he'd be able to expand his knowledge and garner some valuable connections in the process.


He definitely didn't know that Vital Monumental was the cause of his friend's death.


"Holy fuck," he screamed. Maverick was sliding down to the floor next to him, his beer having fallen out of his hand and rolling away towards the pool. "Somebody call an ambulance! Something's wrong!" Beckett dropped his own bottle and kneeled to the floor, taking Maverick's shoulders into his hands and trying to find a pulse through all the blood cascading down his neck. The thrum of his heart was shallow, but it was still there humming hopelessly.


The night had been going so well, too.


Maverick's house had been swarming with college kids since mid afternoon. There were a lot of people that Beckett knew there - a lot of friends from high school that they shared and more from university - and a couple randoms he figured Maverick knew from their school's music program. Brooks, York, Pike, Addison, Kyler - the normal crew that they hung out with was all there, and now they were about to witness Maverick's death.


"Somebody call a fucking ambulance, already! I don't care who does it, but if we don't Maverick is going to die!"

 

[deception]

Seeing the death right in front of Addison's eyes opened her world a little more. She now realized that what everyone thought was a perfect world they lived in, had every flaw they ever thought of it.


Fumbling for her phone when Beckett started to yell at people around them she quickly called an ambulance which began making their way here. Breathing deeply in Addison looked at Beckett and then at Maverick. "It'll be okay." She whispered to herself soon finding herself turn away from the gruesome scene unfolding her in front of her and every other college student here.


For God sake's it was the kid's birthday. Couldn't they wait till a couple weeks after? Not the day of. Sometimes that's how the people above grant you. Your parents make you their perfect child, but in the ending all comes crashing down when you die at the young age of twenty one. Closing her eyes at the somber thought, Addison heard the sirens getting closer to the house. "Beckett, pick Maverick up. The ambulance is near." She said softly looking the boy straight into his eyes.


Hers must have been filled with tears seeing she felt the saltiness and wetness of them go into her mouth. Even though Addison was sobbing, or crying uncontrollably she was still prone to crying even when she didn't know. Quickly wiping the tears, she opened the door for Beckett seeing the flashing lights of blue, white, and red down the street.


The only thing on Addison's mind was the thought of one of her closest friends dying. Especially on their special day. Cruel world they live in.

 

[kindaemissary]

It took him awhile to stand up from the ground with Maverick in his arms, but he managed. Beckett's shirt was covered in the blood from his friend's mouth. It was started to cake against the fabric even though it was still damp. He was distraught with the entire happening, but he kept himself together as Maverick's eyes stared up at him. The other boy was barely still alive, clutching on tight to the front of Beckett's shirt.


Beckett glanced up towards all of their friends gathered around as he headed towards the front of Maverick's house. His parents had been gone for the last couple of days on a trip so that they could give their son more space to hang out with his friends. Beckett was going to be the one to call them from the hospital and tell what had happened, tell them whether or not their son was still alive.


He choked on his own breath and made it into the driveway before the ambulance pulled in, EMTs rushing out and getting Maverick strapped to a stretcher. Beckett grasped as his friend's hand determined not to let him go.


"Do you know if he had any medication before this? An allergic reaction?" Beckett shook his head as they strapped Maverick's chest down. "Does he have a modified genome?"


Beckett's eyebrows pinched together and he looked down to his friend. "I have no idea what that means, so I'm not sure. His parents are on a trip. They would know, probably. I can call them from the ambulance."


The EMT nodded and they lifted the stretcher into the back of the ambulance.


"He's my best friend," Beckett said. He wasn't someone that cried often - seldom to never - but he could feel his throat closing up and lines of tears cascading down his face. "I don't know what I would do without him." He pulled out his phone and tried to call Maverick's parents. There was no answer. No voicemail box to leave it in. It was all weird. He had called them last week about having dinner at his house with his parents. They should have a voicemail.


"They didn't answer," he muttered quietly to the EMT. Whatever was going on, it was weird. Maverick's parents should have answered. They should have been there when Maverick started to fall apart. They shouldn't have left.


Beckett knew he was being ridiculous. They couldn't have known that this was going to happen. If they did, there was no way that they would have disappeared. The young man reached forward and wrapped his fingers around Maverick's hand. "I'm not going anywhere, okay?" He squeezed his fingers tight. "I'll be here until you're okay again."