Excerpt

PROLOGUE

 

2027

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a breaking news story! Sources are telling us, not just our own government is trying to hide, but all the governments of the world have banded together to prevent any mention of this to the public.  But we have exclusive coverage of what is being called ‘the human extinction event.’

Over the past few years, birth rates have radically dropped.  Just a few short years ago, the world typically had about a hundred and forty million births each year.  Yet, after just three years, that rate has dropped to approximately forty million.  That is less than one-third of the normal new population being born into our society.

What has caused this recent decline?

That is the big question.  Scientists have no explanation for this dramatic drop in birth rates.  But if it continues, they fear eventually it might lead to the end of civilization as we know it.

 ***

 2030

The leaders of every nation have declared an emergency regarding the drastic declining birthrates.  As you are most likely aware, the last female was born twelve months ago.  Not even advances in genetics have helped to create any females since that time.  Although, that could also have something to do with the fact that no in vitro procedures have been successful in the past two years.  Nothing infertility doctors have tried has worked, and they are stumped.

The UN called a special session. Each nation sent not just delegates, but most of their leaders  to discuss the global crisis that affects absolutely every region of the world.  Security was high, since the risks of a massive attack would take out most of the leadership in the world.  Going so far as to shut down the city of New York to tourism as well as canceling all events.  Even Broadway had closed for the week long UN session.

In the end, every leader, no matter religious beliefs, hostility with other nations, or political views, came to an unprecedented, unanimous decision.  Scientists around the world were tasked with trying to find the cause of the declining birthrates, which in the year 2029 was a dismal four million worldwide, and also with finding a solution.

Every leader had agreed to implement a mandatory requirement for all citizens between the ages of twelve and forty to participate, when they are called to do so.  This mandate includes, but is not limited to, blood, physical, and reproductive testing, as well as taking any medications, vaccines, or procedures that has been approved by their country.

No country can order any other country to test what they have discovered, but if something viable shows enough promise, other countries can ask to be included.  The moment this announcement was made by President Frost, many Americans took to the streets in protest of having their rights stomped on.

Lawsuits have already been filed in the past few hours, but in a time when the extraordinary is becoming commonplace, the Supreme Court has already announced this mandate is constitutional and they will not allow it to be blocked.  Legal scholars are stunned by the move, and for many, they are declaring this is truly the end of America.

In a statement from the White House, they claim if this isn’t done, it will be the end of humanity itself.

 ***

 2035

The devastation felt around the world is profound.  People are dying at a rate that humanity has never seen.  Although, women are ten times as likely to die as men.   If it continues, there will be no more genetically born females by the year 2045.  Scientists claim that prediction is extremely conservative, and the year will probably be closer to 2040.

The number of bodies that are lost each day doesn’t allow for proper burials or single cremations any longer.  Even our own President Frost, who died four months ago, demanded her body be cremated with the masses and not be treated any differently.

When she was laid to rest, it was with two hundred other women’s ashes.  Her letter to her beloved nation was that of devotion to her people.  A tribute to those who died with, before, and after her.  The memorial not only honored her, but all women who were being exterminated from our world.

Genetically born men might survive longer, but it may not make a difference as no children are being conceived.  Panic gripped our world, leading to the destruction of many civilizations around the globe.

Those countries that have been able to keep their governments intact are having a difficult time stopping violent protesters from burning everything to the ground. Many around the world are claiming the medical community’s experiments are the cause.  Is there truth to that?  It seems unlikely as the rate of death is just as prevalent for those who underwent those medical experiments as didn’t.

***

2045

The world is stunned.  In all my years reporting the news to you, I have to admit I was speechless for nearly an hour after being informed of what has happened.

Today, after a week of tests run by every reproductive expert in the world, it has been announced that there is unanimous confirmation of the first, genetically born male pregnancy.

Yes, folks.  Not only do we have the first pregnancy in thirteen years.  Assuming all goes well, a baby will be born into this world.  In Weis, Austria to be specific.  As there are no longer any genetically born females, the science community has no explanation of how this happened.

What we do know is that the person pregnant was born in 2025, the year scientists agreed was the start of an epidemic that has led to the human race’s decline, as well as the extinction of genetically born females.  He, nor either of his parents prior to his birth, underwent any of the experimentation that had become a worldwide mandate.

Which means what?

No one knows.  Was the original reason for the declining birthrates which eventually lead to no one being able to conceive, the female population being decimated and the male population dying off, and now the first ever genetically born male conceiving a baby caused by something else?

Currently, there are no answers.  But this pregnancy does do one thing for humankind all over the world.  It gives us hope.  Something we haven’t had in a very long time.

***

2046

Six hundred children were born in the last month.  All were born genetically male.  Since it seems men can now give birth, the medical community isn’t as concerned about that as several discoveries they’ve recently determined.  Anyone born since 2025 has an altered genetic makeup.  There is a portion of those born since that date that can carry a child and give birth.

The rest?  Well, that is where things get even stranger.  Since we now accept that males can give birth, that statement seems… incomprehensible, yet it’s true.  The rest can get the first group pregnant.

(Anchor shakes his head as he repeated that last statement.)

What does that mean?

Just as the scientific community is stumped by how some men are born with the ability to conceive a child, they have no explanation for why those born after 2025 can get them pregnant but anyone born before that can’t.  At the moment, scientists are designating those that can get pregnant as Omegas and those who can impregnate others as Alphas.

The rest of us?  Currently, we don’t have a designation, but since we are still dying off at a high rate, it may not matter.