Have you ever heard of something called natural selection? Some people believe that living beings are capable of adapting to disasters and massive extinctions in order to survive by changing their characteristics and going through a process called evolution. However, this is not correct, living beings are not capable of changing their features since the moment they are born, because their features and abilities are coded into their genes at birth; in reality the only creatures that survived those extinctions were the ones already capable of doing so; because their DNA already had the necessary genes that allowed them to survive; and in time, had the chance to reproduce and transfer those genes to their offspring.
In simple terms, Natural selection means, "You only get to live if you have what it takes to survive."
But then, what if there was an organism capable of changing their genes after it had already been born?
********************************************************************************
"Argh Damn it, how the hell did things turn out this way? I swear if something happens to Rosalind I am going to fucking kill him".
Located in the merchant district of the Callid Barony, lived a man in his late thirties named Franklin, born a commoner his prospects in life were not great, but at least it wasn't as bad as being born into slavery.
In this world most poor kids start to work at an early age to support themselves and their familes, and Franklin was one of the lucky few that was able to find a job at the local blacksmithy.
The job was definitely hard, having to work near the burning oven and sharp tools meant that the job had its risks, but it was still far better than risking your life working in the mines, or earning incredibly low wages in the farmlands; even better, here he would eventually learn skills that would net him a lot more income in the future, and so he did.
Franklin grew up and made himself quite the reputation becoming one of the most renowned artisans in the city, so much so that the local nobles knew of his existence. After some time, Franklin was no longer just a commoner, he had started to become somewhat wealthy, recently having married, he and his wife were finally able to move out of the slums and purchased a house in the much better and safer merchants district, life was looking very promising for Franklin, but unfortunately as with most things in life, things dont always go according to plan.
Sadly, his wife passed away soon after giving birth to his daughter Rosalind, the only silverlining was that his daughter was born healthy, a few years passed and Franklin was hired to work for the local Lord, the excentric Baron Callid, the Baron had the intention of producing gadgets and artiffacts that would appeal to other nobles as novelty goods, in an effort to increase his own fame within the social circles of nobility; however, the Baron was very narrowminded and short tempered, and all of Franlkins ideas were rejected, this noble clearly had no talent for inventions, nor any sense for merchandising; after some time, Franklin grew tired of Baron Callid and decided to quit.
Shortly after, Franklin developed quite the invention, an artifact similar to a music box that was able to play continuosly by being powered by a magic crystal. Frankiln took a loan from the local bank and started his venture, he officially opened his own workshop and named it the White Deer company, selling many different goods, but his main attraction was definitely the magic music box, it turns out Franklin was also very skilled as a merchant, after a few years the White deer company had become known all over the Central region of the Darwin kingdom.
This brought both wanted and unwanted attention; mainly, Baron Callid filled with jealousy, was not happy that Franklin was basking on all the fame and glory by using the ideas he had rejected, so he came with a plan to take it all from him. He accused Franklin of stealing the ideas for his inventions and demanded compensation; unfortunately, Baron Callid's only talent was being born wealthy, he had no real plan on how to proceed legally and was surrounded by only "Yes men" who were also very incompetent, and since Franklin had already patented his inventions there was nothing the Baron could do.
After being humilliated again and again, mostly due to his own actions, he decided on using a more direct approach. Baron Callid came up with the great idea of simply using force, so he contracted a local group of bandits to kidnap Franklin's daughter Rosalind in a minimum effort of this crime not being traced back to him, when Franklin came back home, he found a broken door and his home had been robbed, but the most important thing was also missing.
"Rosalind! Rosalind! Where are you?"
Franklin frantically exited the house and questioned every passerby and neighbor, to see if they had witnessed someting, a few of them told him that they had seen a group in men in robes leaving the place carrying something that seemed to be a person inside a bag.
After hearing this, Franklin ran back inside the house to look for clues; this time, he quickly found a note that stated "If you want to see your daughter alive, bring 5,000 gold coins to the marked location in3 days, come alone, if you do not show up in time or bring anyone else with you, she dies."
After reading the ransom note Franklin panicked, a combination of fear and rage started to swirl within him but he was still able to think rationally; this scheme was so incredibly obvious, it was clear that this kidnapping had been ochestrated by the Baron, the amount demanded was so unreasonably high that the only way to get it would be to sell everything he owned including the patents, he may even need to take another loan to match the difference, despite knowing who the culprit was, was there anything he could actually do?
For the next 2 days, Franklin liquidated all of his assets including the patents; due to the lack of time, in many occasions he had to sell at a lower price to get enough money for the ransom, the clock was ticking and just in time, he managed to gather the necessary amount, just a few hours away from going to the marked place to make the transaction, Franklin found himself at home sitting on his desk, in one hand a glass of rum, and in the other the ransom note, the room was dimly lit by a few candles.
"Huh, so this is how it ends, even though I sold the patents at the merchants guild, I am certain they will end up in that bastards hands eventually. Rosalind, I hope you are okay"
As he was contemplating how thing turned out this way, and how they would unfold, a voice coming from behind him broke the silence.
"You know it is a trap dont you?"
Franklin, startled, quickly stood from his chair and looked around him to see where the voice came from, but there was nothing around him, for a moment he though he was hallucinating due to all the recent stress, but then, he heard the voice again.
"You know you are walking towards your death dont you?"
Once again, the voice came from behind him, but this time it felt like those words were being whispered right into his head; feeling this presence so closely Franklin instinctively swung his arm to the side trying to strike whoever was the owner of that voice. His strike hit the empty air, but from behind him, something hit the back of his legs making him fall to his knees, and right after that a cold hard sensation pressed againts his neck as he now had a knife to this throat.
"Argh, who, who are you?" Did the Baron send you? I was just on my way to bring you the money.
The unknown assailant answered in a somewhat playful tone.
"Come on Franklin you are a smart man, if I had received orders from that fool I would have just killed you and taken the money you have in that bag; after all, now that you have sold the patents what good are you? the only thing left for you to give, is this money and your life."
"So, you are not on that bastards side?"
"Of course not, in fact, I am on your side."
"Why would you?, if you truly are on my side, then why do you have a knife to my throat?"
"Isnt it obvious? It is to show you what I am capable of, I came to offer you my services, why not make a deal with me?"
"So, you came here to offer me your services? in exchange for what? as you said, you could just kill me and take the money."
"Well, didnt I say there is another thing you are able to give? I want your life."- At this response, Franklin was left baffled, before he could say anything, the stranger continued speaking.
"You know, I am quite the greedy person, I love collecting things, and most of all, I hate it when people take what is mine. In that regard I think you and I are similar; that stupid Baron blinded by his arrogance didn't notice he had a golden goose in his hands, and now instead of letting it go free, he is about to kill it. Tell me, do you really think that after paying the ransom he will simply let you and your daughter go safely?"
Franklin deep down already knew that things would not be resolved so easily, even now he did not know if his daughter was safe, or even alive.
"I am getting tired in this position, I believe business people should negotiate on equal standing, I will let you stand up, of course just as a reminder, dont try to do anything stupid"
The unknown assailant released Franklin and he stood up, as he turned around, what he saw was quite unexpected, the voice made it sound as if he was speaking with a mature woman, but what was in front of him was just a young lady, she seemed to be in her mid teens, with a slender body and average height for a woman, her jet black hair reached her shoulders, and she had.. red eyes?, Franklin could not believe that a lady that was clearly still not fully developed, was capable of using such force.
"So, are you going to introduce yourself?"
"Sure, you can call me Celera, I am a representative of the Double Helix company."
"The Double Helix company? I think I have heard about it before, isnt that a company that works in the Northern region of the kingdom?"
"Precisely, we have been expanding quickly over the last few years, and I came here because I heard of quite the talented individual."
"So, you want to recruit me?"
"Indeed, your talent for business and invention are very desirable, I believe you have the capacity to expand our company not just to this kingdom, but the entire continent." -Franklin couldn't help but to feel flattered by her comment, even though he thought he was still lacking in many ways, as this recent incident had proved.
"I am not sure I can consider myself such a talented person."
"It is true, you are clearly lacking in many things; while you do have a great sense for commerce, you lack the power to protect what is yours. If you come with me I will give you unlimited resources and ensure your safety and your daughter's; and eventually if you desire, I will give you the head of that foolish Baron on a platter."
Once again, Franklin was shocked at hearing these words, was this person seriously thinking of turning nobility into an enemy just to ally with him?
"It is almost time, so what is it going to be? will you go on your own to pay the ransom and hope that they wont just kill you on the spot? or will you follow my orders and get your daughter back?"
Franklin was not sure if he could trust this young lady, but it was true that with her skills, maybe Rosalind could be saved.
"I am still not sure if I am worthy enough to receive your help, but.. Please help me! please save my daughter!"- Franklin got himself back on his knees while begging this misterious young lady for help.
As the young lady exited the room, she replied to Franklins plea.
"Stay here, my associate will come get you soon, I will take care of the rest. Oh, and by the way, allow me to correct your misunderstanding, while you are indeed very talented, the talented person I was reffering to, Is your daughter."
Celera exited the house, as soon as she did, she placed her fingers in front of her lips and whistled, but no sound came out, even so, a figure descended from the sky and landed on her shoulder, it was a raven,
"Go tell Nando to follow the plan, and then meet me at this location."- The raven nodded with its head and flew away.
As she was about to leave, someone came running from behind, it was Franklin.
"Miss Celera, please wait, when you see her, give this to Rosalind, it is my daugther's treasure." - Celera looked at the object Franklin was carryiing and accepted it.
"Don't worry, I will return it to her, and her to you. "
"Thank you." - Celera replied to Franklin's grattitude with a warm smile, she turned around and walked away.
"Splyce, let's go, we have work to do."- At her words, a large figure appeared next to her, the creature was not invisible, but its shape and color were not discernible, as if it was under camouflage melding into the background, the only thing that could be clealry seen was its footprints next to her's as they both dissapeared into the night.