Altered

Okay, so we messed up.

Somebody pushed the button, and the world nearly ended.

We still don't know exactly who it was,

but it doesn't matter.

What matters is the world didn't end.

We rebuilt it and made it better.

Well, better for some.

They are called the Genetics.

Genetically-improved humans that live like kings.

Then there's the rest of us.

The Specials.

Although there's nothing special about us.

For us, genetic improvements just don't work.

We're as normal as humans have ever been.

But in today's world,

that makes us the scum of the Earth,

or what's left of it.

This is our story.

Sixty-five years ago,

the great nuclear war brought

the old world to an end.

Structures once thought of

-as formidable, the electric... - Leon, go. Move on.

...and the international communication networks

crumbled overnight.

Plunged into a world of technological crisis,

humans finally turned to a power

that had always been close at hand.

Nature.

How many of you know who this man is?

Liam Smith.

Correct. Liam Smith.

Our greatest botanist and genetic engineer.

In the forests of the Amazon,

Professor Smith found the Genesis Tree.

Leon? You ready?

Just give me a second here.

A marvel of nature that appeared after the war.

As a result of the war,

the old power system was destroyed.

But scientists soon learned to utilize the Genesis flower

to harvest and source energy to replace

the damaged electric grid.

The Genesis Tree flowers accumulate

an incredible amount of energy,

and nowadays,

the Genesis energy is everywhere.

- The Genesis Tree is very... -Chloe. I'm in.

- to the external conditions... -How's it going out there?

Hurry up, it's damn boring.

...and humidity.

Considering the significance of these plants,

every single Genesis Tree is controlled by the government.

They're grown and maintained...

You see the game last night?

Yeah, D'Abruzzo's pass nearly knocked Juniper out.

It's really hard to find a good linebacker these days.

All right, little buddy.

Time to cause some trouble.

Seriously, Juniper couldn't catch a ball

even if a courier handed it to him.

What the hell?

Come here.

They let us bring toys to work now?

Come on! Stop, you little shit!

Get back here.

What is it?

Beats me. We better call it in.

- It's me! -Oh.

Good night!

Good work, Mr. Stinky.

Okay.

Come on.

Yes!

In the aftermath, 90 percent of children

were born with devastating

- genetic disorders... -This one.

- But then, hope blossomed. -Okay.

- Quite literally. -Okay.

The flower came to our rescue!

Access for one, access for two...

Yeah.

...and successfully integrated it

into the human genome.

This groundbreaking achievement sparked

- a biological revolution. -Yeah.

Humans transcended their physical limitations,

taking an evolutionary leap forward.

With careful genetic engineering...

Come on, come on, come on.

Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Mankind was no longer constrained

by its old vulnerabilities.

We had entered a new era of possibility and potential.

For more than half a century now,

every person is born with a genetic improvement

that they received before they were born.

Take a look at each other.

Some of you have improved hearing,

others can run faster,

some have improved vision

or highly evolved smell and taste.

And some of us may even sing like an angel,

like Mira,

recipient of one of the Institute's most

advanced vocal improvements.

Oh, my God, that's Mira!

For all these improvements,

we have Dr. Liam Smith to thank.

Shame he didn't find a cure for the freaks!

- - Yes.

Bobby! You know we don't call them freaks.

We call them Specials.

Because not everyone is as lucky as us.

Ten percent of humans suffer from an immune deficiency

that prohibits genetic improvement.

It's not their fault,

and they can still live meaningful lives

and be of great use to society doing

maintenance, cleanup, and other less demanding tasks.

But without someone taking care of these tasks...

Oh, Chloe.

Chloe.

The code's incorrect.

You... you need to get the code.

Give me the right code, now.

Okay.

For that, we call them "Specials."

There's nothing special about them.

They're just a bunch of freaks.

Yeah. My dad says we should put them down like dogs.

-You sick bastard! Shut up! -Hey! Hey, what are you?

A freak lover?

- Fight! Fight! Fight! -Help, I'm being bullied! Help!

-Help! Shut up! -Hey, hey, hey! Stop!

Knock it off, I said, everybody! Calm down!

Mister! Mister, help!

-They're being mean! -Get off!

What the hell is going on here?

Everything's fine. I'll take care of it.

Okay, Leon.

Now, please try 1304-2029. Okay?

- -

Rock and roll.

We're in.

Now, children, we still have a class to finish.

I don't want to contact your parents.

I don't care.

Snap it.

Follow me to the next exhibit.

The institute was established

to house the Genesis Tree

at the heart of our city, harness its power...

Okay. Sleep tight.

...to study its remarkable biological properties.

Teams of dedicated scientists work tirelessly

to unlock the mysteries

- of the Genesis Tree. - We're all equal.

Sure thing, Mom.

Okay, Chloe.

Three minutes. Get ready.

- -

- What was that? - Nothing. It's nothing.

The Genesis Tree absorbs nuclear material

from the contaminated atmosphere

and transforms it into pure energy,

which it stores in its blossoms,

the Genesis flowers.

These flowers, our most valuable resource,

are safeguarded within Genesis Institutes

across the globe.

Each tree functions as a self-sustaining "reactor,"

providing energy to power our cities

and fuel our vehicles,

ensuring the survival and advancement of humanity.

Okay. Come to Daddy.

A breach has been detected

in the containment chamber.

Facility lockdown imminent.

All nonessential personnel,

please vacate the premises immediately.

Okay, that's everything.

Attention, kids! We must leave the building!

Kids, everybody out!

Hello? What do we have here?

Everybody out!

- Please follow me. - A breach has been detected...

-Follow in an orderly manner. - Facility lockdown imminent.

All nonessential personnel,

please vacate the premises immediately.

Hey, you better watch where you're going, huh?

I'm sorry.