Breeder Plague: chapter II

A bit short, and this story will have a slower burn before we get to the boinkie, boinkie, but have fun!

*****

Long, long ago, a gift had been bestowed on mankind. Not long after one of the numerous disasters that had nearly seen humanity rendered extinct. A blessing.

Grow. Be fertile. Multiply. Be healthy.

Those who had granted that blessing had then left, their own affairs far more important than a single tiny, unremarkable sphere on the fringes of the galaxy.

Of course the seeds were self-limiting. The plants would not endure forever, just long enough to help mankind through the population bottleneck.  Then they would break down, and the primitive humans had no way to preserve them.

Save by the last temple to have some of the seeds being sealed away by a volcanic eruption…

But now they were in the presence of water, soil…

Humans.

*****

“Okay,” Mark said. “The first thing we do is put some of hte seeds under the grow lamps.”

“Next to our weed?”  Thomas shook his head. Nah, what if it fucks it up somehow?”

“There isn’t anything on this planet that can fuck up marijuana,” Mark told his friend. “That’s why we call it weed, because it grows like one.”

“Ha. Ha.” Thomas leanened forward as Mark put some of the tiny seeds into the planter on the side of room.  “Just be glad the Dean’s an aging hippie, or we’d be getting expelled for this.”

“Nah,” Mark said. “That ain’t why he’s turning a blind eye to the weed.”

“Oh?”

“When was the last time you heard about some guy smoking pot getting into a fight. Far as the Dean’s concerned, it’s better than the student body getting drunk and angry.”

“Fine. You’re doing a community service. So do we know how to grow this stuff?”

“Uh. Put it in the ground and let the soil and grow lights do their magic?” Mark said, his voice uncertain.

“You have no idea. Do you?”

“Nope. Ancient temples don’t leave grow instructions.”

“Fine,” Thomas said. “Let’s leave it and see if they’re alive, but if it starts singing “feed me” I’m out of here.”

“Fine. Wanna get something to eat?  Cheer team’s back in, and they always celebrate at the student union.”

“Looking for the Untouchable Bonita?” Thomas asked. “I thought you’d given up on her.”

“I never give up,” Mark said. “I beat tactical retreats when my pick up lines fail.”

“Oh, that’s what that was,”  Thomas said. “I’ll keep that in mind. Let’s go, I’m hungry.”

****

The room was empty and dark save for the glow of the lamps, playing down on the soil. Just under the soil, the seeds trembled. Tiny threads of plant material burst free from the seeds, running over the rich soil.

Designed to function even in deserts, the plants found abundant food, and started developing at an incredible speed. Tiny leaves emerged, greedily drinking in the energy-rich light. Under those leaves, buds started forming. Flowers. Flowers that would be laden with pollen.

But this pollen wasn’t intended to pollinate other plants… no.

Outside, where a few seeds had fallen onto the ground and into planters, more plants germinated, sending their threadlike runners across the grass and soil. They would grow slightly slower, not benefitting from the grow lights. But Dawn was only a few yours away, and the college lawns and planters were fertilized and well watered.

In fact, they were far better provided for than those who had created them had ever anticipated.

Just as they would grow far, far faster, and carry out their purpose…