"Early last Spring, much of the Eastern U.S. was beset by what was referred to as the Brood X cicadas. One of the largest known insect swarms seen in recent times. They emerge once every seventeen years. The Brood X cicadas are mostly harmless and subsist off of plant life, before mating and dying. They are mostly harmless, with the exception of the large size of this particular brood."
Doctor William Paragon stood in front of a large graphic displaying images of the full grown cicadas over the skies of Ohio. The meeting room was darkened, as the field team of Vanguard Europe sat around the meeting table, listening.
"Late in the summer, after most of the Brood X species had mated and died off, Bethesda, Maryland was beset with what the newsmedia dubbed "The Bethesda Beasts," but the scientific community more properly labeled Brood XIII. Large, carnivorous variants of the cicadas which appear to be evolutionary offshoots of the Brood X. I don't think I need to point out the implausibility of such a swift and sudden evolutionary phase. Yes, Adem?"
Adem Different stood from his seat at the meeting table and spoke. "It is your theory that this evolution was artificially induced, is it not?" The alien smiled as the words passed from his lips.
"It is." Paragon answered. "As you and Edmund know, there seems to be a new designer drug on the streets, which allows norms to mimic meta abilities for short periods of time. The Brood XII outbreak was in fact, followed by an outbreak of sickness which was in fact, caused by what was revealed to be a metaviral strain."
"Metaviral?" Drake Marshall asked. "As in, meta viruses?"
"Yes, it was a theory of mine that the metagene is not necessarily limited to humanity." Paragon's statement stunned most of the room into silence.
"Oh, make way for Krypto, the Wonder Dog!" Icarus exclaimed with bored indifference. "Give him a cape and add him to the team!"
"Nothing so lighthearted, I'm afraid." Paragon gravely responded. "Someone, is artificially creating metagenetic evolution in insects, viruses, and normal humans. We don't know what else they may be capable of. There could be serious ramifications on natural life if they continue to wantonly create these artificial metas."
"What does this have to do with us, specifically?" Lykopis asked. "Why do you appear so bothered by this now?"
"Because early this morning, the Brood XIII cicadas appeared again over the skies of Germany. They're here. Now."
