Gen X

Transition

It was my 16th birthday, which meant one thing. The Transition. All children of the New were injected, genetically modified, to be almost superhuman. I felt my mother's hand touch my own, it was warm and welcoming. She told me in her kind and almost euphoric voice, "Don't worry Maddox, you'll do great." Every child of the New anxiously awaited this moment of their lives, and I was among the first 10 thousand recipients. I was receiving my final dose of Thrantacine, the drug that makes us who we are. This was my third and final dose. The first comes at birth, second at 6 years of age, and final, most potent, at 16. The doses make us smarter, I already take multivariable calculus. There is only one other New at my school, she's 15,  her name is Juniper. She's quite beautiful, as all the New are. She has deep green eyes, almost like an emerald sunflower in the summer sky. My mother must have known I had dazed off because she pinched my ear and told me that I was next to have my shot. I was very nervous but eager as well. The room I entered was cold and seemed overly clean, almost creepily clean. I sat in the chair that the nurse guided me to, it was a big blue thing that had arm and leg restraints. I wasn't expecting restraints. I asked the nurse in the most calm voice I could manage, "am I missing something?" She simply nodded and replied, "yes, the final dose can affect people in different ways, so we take every precaution to keep our patients safe." I felt a chill run down my spine, I wanted to go home. The nurse strapped me in and wished me luck, and then she disappeared to the halls. I waited, alone, for what seemed like hours until I finally heard a knock at the door. A cold sweat broke out on my brow. The doctor was a tall friendly looking man, he approached me and said in a calm and friendly tone, "Hello Maddox, I'm doctor Locke, I hope you're ready for the big Transition into full Gen X." He put his gloves on and told me to be prepared for a slight pinching sensation. I felt nauseous. He drew his needle and stuck my arm, at first I felt nothing. Then it happened, I felt pure adrenaline run through my whole body, a limitless power, then the room got smaller and the light faded from my eyes and disappeared completely.