Biosynthetic

Story opens in the vastness of space, the last unexplored territory of mankind. A celestial body coined Bastor’s Comet, moving with a gentle determination as it had done for ages before its discovery, is making its century long return to Earth’s Solar System. A mining and survey expedition has been approved to examine Bastor’s mineral qualities. The vessel Walton is inbound when an unusual reading is detected coming from the comet.

Observer Post Officer

“Sir, I am detecting a metallic object on the surface of the comet.”

Expedition Leader

“What? A metallic object, are you sure?”

Observer Post Officer

“Yes sir. Coordinates are being fed into the system now.”

Expedition Leader

“Well, we’ve come all this way. Might as well see what it is. Land us as close to the signal as we can get. We will send out a search party after our preliminary scan of the comet’s surface.”

On the surface of the comet

After the Walton had landed, two men departed the craft carrying flashlight like devices that bear little resemblance to any existing technology. They are fully covered in exosuits with a distinctly reptilian design. A mirrored faceplate adorns their masks to protect them from the elements. The soundless crunch of their boots meshes the soft surface of the darkly lit comet. They approach an opening that resembles a cave. As they wander inside, the explorers’ flashlights illuminate the makeshift cave. Ice and ore light up with an understated yet appreciable radiance. They examine the cave for a short while before their lights fall upon a metal object. The two men approach cautiously.

Explorer

“Sir, this is Rickard. We have found the object.”

Expedition Leader

“What does it look like? Can you describe its appearance?”

Rickard

“I don’t have to sir. It’s a Russian Alliance teleportation pod.”

Expedition Leader

“Russian Alliance? That’s impossible, David contact UASEPC. Tell them we found El Dorado!”

Back On Earth

Sometime later, two aircraft called stingrays for their resemblance to four-winged stingrays are on patrol along the Eastern Coalition / United Atlantic border. They are performing a routine aerial sweep to detect potential hostiles and report the locations of indigenous people to maintain population control.

Aircraft Pilot One

“Air Control, this is Alpha. Routine sweep has been completed; border is clear request permission to return to Landsite.”

Air Control

“Negative Alpha, Sector 42 has requested emergency aid. Unidentified hostile has attacked Siterep Sigma, repeat Siterep Sigma is under attack.”

Aircraft Pilot One

“Copy that Air Control. Alpha inbound ETA flying time.”

The Stingrays eventually make their way to the base designated Siterep Sigma. What awaited them was a state-of-the-art facility reduced to rubble. Combat Synth vehicles scatter the ground as smoke wafts from a sizable crater where a roof used to be on a cone shaped military research lab.

Aircraft Pilot One

“Air Control we have reached Siterep Sigma. No signs of hostile.”

Air Control

“Alpha, are there any survivors?”

Aircraft Pilot One

“Unable to determine Air Control, too much smoke and debris to see survivors.”

Air Control

“Understood Alpha. Return to Landsite. Rescue crews are on their way.”

Aircraft Pilot One

“Acknowledged Air Control. Returning to Landsite.”

Aircraft Pilot Two

“(Thinks to himself): My God, what happened here!?”

The mobile Village of Tiena

It was a quiet morning in Tiena. This was Tiena’s third day at its present location. Aleia, A woman in her late twenties with dark hair, tan skin and vibrant red sash was collecting water from a stream. As she went about her task out of the corner of her eyes, she spots something lying on the bank. It was a boy unconscious, yet conspicuously clean considering his resting place. In that moment her instinct to help a fellow human being, which we all possess but ignore when convenient, took hold of her. She carried the boy who was oddly light for his size back to her house. She then fetched the village doctor.

Aleia

“How is he, doctor?”

Doctor

“His vitals are normal, no sign of injury and his pulse is steady. I think he will be fine with some rest. Where did you find him?”

Aleia

“On the bank, I was collecting water for the move. He was lying there motionless.”

Doctor

“On the bank? Were his clothes wet before you carried him?”

Aleia

“No, he must have been there awhile, his clothes were dry.”

Doctor

“Well, it is a good thing you found him before something awful happened. You may have saved his life; we can ask him questions when he wakes up.”

Aleia

“Thank you doctor.”

The doctor tipped his hat and walked out the door. Alone with the boy she found by the river, Aleia examined his features more closely. The boy looked no more than fourteen years old. He was dressed in blue clothes that covered most of his body. A black undershirt was visible where his suit revealed his midriff. He wore black boots that stopped below the knee and black gloves without the fingertips.

His hair was blonde and neatly organized into rows of small spikes that reminded Aleia of cresting waves or the quills of a hedgehog. His face was smooth and round, but perhaps the most striking part of the boy’s appearance was a long red scarf he wore snugly around his neck and down his back for it was made of a fabric she did not recognize.

Aleia was puzzled by his appearance. He did not look like one of her people. In fact, he did not resemble anyone within the Eastern Coalition. His style of dress indicated a winter climate, yet the temperature in this part of the world did not drop below a comfortable heat. Aleia stared at her unusual guest until he started to stir.

His eyes fluttered open and after an initial look of confusion, the boy’s face was replaced with a look of complete panic. He jolted up in the bed causing Aleia to rise to her feet in order to calm him down.

Boy

“Aaah!”

Aleia

“Easy, take it easy! You’re safe here.”

The boy regarded her for a moment before calming slightly.

Boy

“Where am I? Where are the monsters?”

Aleia

“Monsters? There are no monsters here. You must have had a nightmare.”

The boy paused briefly at that remark, the monster that had attacked his home still fresh in his mind. Had that been a Nightmare? If so, where is his mother? He grimaced at the thought.

Aleia

“What is your name?”

Boy

“My name is Stark, Stark Victries.”

Aleia

“Stark, I would like you to meet the village leader. Are you feeling well enough to move?”

Stark

“Yeah, I think so.”

The U.A. Tactical Strike Facility: Codename Greenhouse

A hardened Colonel Brandt walked into the main corridor of the Greenhouse. He was dressed in the regal splendor of a seasoned fighting man complemented by an unyielding scowl. His Second was waiting to adjoin him to the War Room.

Brandt

“Have the survivors from Siterep Sigma been debriefed yet?”

Second Command Officer Jenner

“No sir. Medical wanted to make sure there were no pathogens before allowing interviews to be conducted. It is a standard safety protocol.”

Brandt

“Very well, tell them to hurry up. I want to know what in the hell happened there.”

Jenner

“Our present theory is it was a breach by one of the research specimens.”

Brandt

“Breach!? Siterep Sigma is one of the most secured and fortified locations on the planet! We spent 40 billion dollars on the security grid, a quarter billion dollars on the Combat Synths, and another 30 billion dollars on specimen containment and K.E.N.F installations. There had better be a damn good explanation for this or there will be hell to pay!”

The two walked at a brisk pace as they near the end of the corridor.

Brandt

“I want an update on the Talishar situation. Have you found the group smuggling the anti-synth weapons?”

Jenner

“Yes sir. Intelligence reports indicate that the Talishar splinter group are smuggling the weapons into the borders of the Eastern Coalition. They are traveling with one of the autonomous mobile villages within the Selvika region.”

Brandt

“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s blow that village to kingdom come!”

Both stop at the entrance to the War Room. The door resembles a flower that opens in a vertical fashion like a reverse Venus fly trap. For generations the Greenhouse has been the primary forward base for all military excursions by the United Atlantic since it rose from the collective ashes of the United States of America, Canada and the European Union. The three former powers became part of the global federation known as the Ethics Committee of the United Atlantic.

Forever dedicated to the cause of global security, every aspect of life within the U.A. is supervised by the three Branches of the U.A. Superstate. Everything from telecommunications, to healthcare, to public education, to environmentalism is managed by the watchful eyes of the U.A. Ethics Committee and its unflinchingly loyal military branches. It is the unparalleled efficiency of facilities like The Greenhouse that make it all possible. From this seat of military might Colonel Harvey Brandt is about to launch a campaign that will decide the fate of billions, unaware of the true horror he will set in motion.

Brandt

“Are the All-Terrain Combat Synths loaded onto the aerocarriers?”

The flower shaped door of the War Room opens, Brandt and Jenner walk in. The War Room is like all forms of U.A. technology designed to emulate nature. It has pristine wooden floors and control consoles that resemble tangled vines. The touch screens exhibit a prismatic translucent color, like water droplets shimmering in the sunlight, and the large screen in the middle resembles a collection of leaves with images on them. To the uninitiated, the War Room would resemble a thriving ecosystem, but its artificial aesthetic hides its grim function.

Jenner

“Proceeding as ordered sir.” (gestures one of the console operators to bring up the loading bay screen, the leaves changing shape to reflect the image)

“We will be ready with the hour. The target (gestures again to bring up a satellite image) is the mobile village of Tiena. The Talishar are believed to be disguised as natives.”

Brandt

“Did the Ethics Committee give us the go ahead for the operation?”

Jenner

“Yes, sir they did. However, the intelligence department would like us to wait until we have more information.”

Brandt

“More information!? Bah, its one village! How much information do we need to kill them all!? Open the launcher petals; get the aerocarriers into the air!”

The order given, the flower shaped Greenhouse opened its massive petals to launch the eel shaped aerocarriers, its cargo made to build wastelands. Despite the obvious conclusions one would naturally reach, this conflict would not end the way Brandt predicted.

Tiena

Aleia and Stark had left the house and were on their way to the village council. Stark took in the sights as the two of them walked to their destination. People in clothes he had never seen before bustled before him. Some handled pottery: others tended to game and fish. The metal workers tirelessly forged trinkets of glass and iron.

Every face they passed was friendly and inviting. Stark had never known such kindness living in isolation with his mother, he wasn’t sure what to make of it. The world was far different a place than his sheltered education had ever taught him.

Stark wondered if his mother had found a place like this. Had she found any place at all to escape the monsters?

The pair approached the large building situated in the center of the village. Impassioned arguments could be heard through the flaps of the door; they enter the building.

First Man

“I say we stay and fight, we have nothing to lose! Every day the U.A. further encroaches into our lands and slaughter out people! We have the weapons let’s stay and fight!”

Second Man

“It takes more than a few weapons to fight an enemy as powerful as the U.A. Torian! It was a mistake to even agree to help the Talishar, now we all have a target on our backs!”

Torian

“Osler, your passivity will lead to the extinction of our people. It’s us or them we can’t share our way of life with outsiders. All our enemies must be destroyed. To protect our culture and our children we must fight!”

Osler

“Don’t disguise your blood lust as concern for our people Torian! We have all lost someone to the U.A. siding with terrorists will not make their deaths mean something. A peaceful future is the only way to end the bloodshed!”

Torian

“I would rather be a terrorist than a slave. Mark my words old man, until the U.A. and all who live in it are destroyed there will be no future for anyone!”

Murmurs and gossip ring out across the room. The sound of the door flaps moving catches the assembly’s attention.

Aleia

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but I brought someone who was found lying near the bank. I think it best that you should speak with him.”

Osler

“Ah, this must be the boy that Dr. Pavi mentioned. Welcome my young friend.”

Stark

“Hello.”

Stark looked visibly uneasy regarding the man. He was a heavyset fellow with balding hair and a large nose. His face was wrinkly but jovial.

Stark

“…”

Osler

“Is something the matter my boy?”

Stark

“Why is your head shiny, did someone wax it?”

Laughter broke out at Stark’s remark, even Torian repressed a smirk. Osler chuckled in amusement at Stark’s naivete.

Osler

“No young fellow. When you reach my age, you find that hair is overrated. Enough about me, I would like to learn more about you.”

Stark walked around the table in the center of the ornate room he made his way to the opposing podium from where Osler was standing. He glanced around nervously at the unfamiliar faces all observing him with keen interest. It was a spacious room, far more so than one would expect with village cultural icons hanging from the walls. The room smelled of lilacs. Stark found that fact somewhat comforting.

Osler

“Now why don’t you start by telling us who you are and where you came from.”

Stark

“My name is Stark Victries; I don’t know where I came from. Mom said it is supposed to be a secret.”

Osler

“Your mother? Where is your mother?”

Stark

“I don’t know, we were separated when it attacked.”

Osler

“When what attacked?”

Stark

“I don’t know what it was, it was like a monster! It was big and fast and had claws, and there were more of them as we tried to escape. I blacked out and when I woke up, I was surrounded by strange creatures. I panicked and ran away. Last thing I remember was falling into some water.”

Osler

“These monsters, where are they now?”

Stark

“I don’t know, anything after the water I don’t know what happened.”

There was a rush of murmurs carrying around the room. The people regarded Stark’s testimony with varying levels of confusion and skepticism. Stark was worried they wouldn’t believe him. His eyes met Aleia’s who gave him a reassuring smile.

Osler

“Whatever chased you won’t find you here. You are welcome to travel with us. We leave tomorrow morning. Until then enjoy our people’s hospitality!”

The people murmured in excited agreement, all except one. Torian, the most hawkish member of counsel, eyed Stark suspiciously. His instinct told him there was more to the story, but it would have to wait until after tomorrow.

Later that night in the airspace of the Selvika region

The three aerocarriers that launched from the Greenhouse were making good time as they neared the target. Their sleek undulating bodies whipped about gracefully as their prismatic colored fins adjusted shape to lower their altitude. The payload they were about to deliver were the latest in Synth technology.

Combat Synth are specialized vehicles made from artificially constructed organic matter; they are designed to resemble animals in both appearance and movement. These All-Terrain Combat Synths possess chitinous armor like a crab.

Their appearance is spider-like with three eight-meter legs adorning each side and an additional leg on the front for stability, The AT Synth is capable of leaping upwards of 14 meters and moves fast enough to outmaneuver electricity.

A synth’s neurocircuit control system gives it the response time of a fly, enabling its pilot to perform actions in rapid succession while he or she is plugged into the system. ATs have bell shaped bodies with an armored green visor surrounded by red circular lens shaped like eyes. These eyes are part of the ATs onboard K.E.N.F. system.

A Kinetic Energy Neutralization Field or K.E.N.F for short is a revolutionary ion-based armament designed to neutralize the force behind an object. Onboard sensors detect the force of an object and respond by putting out a plasma pulse with equal or greater force at a calculated point of contact to intercept the object. This prevents the K.E.N.F. protected object from taking physical damage.

The neutralization field is so effective at intercepting threats that it is essentially impossible to harm a Combat Synth without anti-synth weapons designed to bypass a K.E.N.F.

Complementing the AT Synths defensive capabilities are its weapon loadout; automatic mounted guns with incendiary rounds; short range ballistic missiles; mortal shells fired with magnetic propulsion for increased velocity; and K.E.N.F. scramblers for Synth-on-Synth engagements.

The All-Terrain Combat Synth is the ideal weapon for turning any landmass into a graveyard. A contingent of twenty ATs is included on each of the aerocarriers. The aerocarriers have reached the drop point.

Aerocarrier

“Greenhouse, this is Charlie. Tiena is less than a mile out, permission to deliver package.”

Brandt

“Permission granted Charlie. Deliver the package, I want that village turned into a parking lot by tomorrow morning.”

Aerocarrier

“Acknowledged Greenhouse, delivering package.”

Gill shaped slits open along the length of the Aerocarriers. The ATs are ejected from the openings in bubble shaped pods. The pods make it to the ground in record time before dissolving and releasing the ATs. The visor and lens on the ATs light up as they activate.

Alpha

“This is Alpha. Package delivered, proceeding to combat zone.”

Beta

“This is Beta. Package delivered, proceeding to combat zone.”

Aerocarrier

“This is Charlie. Package delivery acknowledged. Returning to Greenhouse.”

River near Tiena

Stark had spent almost an hour looking at the river. It was the first time he had ever seen one in person. Much of what Stark knew of the world came from books. Even then, he knew very little. He believed he was going to spend the rest of his life in his mother’s laboratory. She had often told him how dangerous and unkind life outside the lab was to those who didn’t belong there.

Stark pondered what she had meant by that. Tiena was nothing like his expectations. The people were friendly, if somewhat mistrusting. The river and grass were as lively as the lab gardens. The sun had been warm which only accentuated the crisp cool night air Stark was now experiencing.

Life was far from unkind here. In fact, it was quite enjoyable. Still his mother’s words had troubled Stark, for his mother had never lied to him. What was it about this place that was so dangerous? The more he thought about it the less comfort it gave him.

Stark thoughts turned to his mother. Was she safe? Would she find him? Should he go back to the lab and look for her? Stark was a fast runner so it wouldn’t take him long to reach it. And then there were her parting words to him, “Forgive me.”.

Forgive her? What was there to forgive her for? Why had she said it? Why was she crying when she said it? Nothing about this made sense to Stark and it troubled him greatly.

Aleia

“Penny for your thoughts?”

Stark turned around. Aleia must have approached while he was lost in his thoughts.

Stark

“I was thinking about my home…and my mother.”

Aleia

“You must miss your mom a lot, huh?”

Stark

“This is the first time in my life she wasn’t around. I’m worried about her. I can’t stop thinking about the attack.”

Aleia

“I wish I could say something to help. Do you have any other family? Someone you can stay with just in case.”

Stark

“No. I have an older sister, but she hates me. She thinks I’m a mistake.”

Aleia’s face dropped at what Stark had said. It appears Stark no longer has a home. He is alone and has yet to fully come to terms with it. Aleia thought wherever this boy came from must have been a terrible place.

Aleia internally debated with herself for a short while before reaching a decision.

Aleia

“Why don’t you live with me? I don’t have much, but I always wanted a little brother.”

Stark

“Live with you? In the village?”

Aleia

“Yes. At least until we find your mother.”

Stark

“What if I never find my mother? What if she’s?”

Stark couldn’t finish the sentence. He didn’t want to acknowledge the possibility that haunted his mind. Aleia’s face change once again to one of concern. It was as if she could read Stark’s mind.

She gently smiled and approached Stark as he turned to stare at the river again. Aleia put her hands on his shoulders. He looked up at her smiling face with concern.

Aleia

“I promise you will have a home here Stark. The people of Tiena are good people. We will protect you. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

The two shared the warmth of the embrace for a short while before loud noises begun to fill the air.

Aleia

“What is that?”

There was a bright flash from a large explosion in a distance. As Aleia listened, the sound of screams became more audible.

Aleia

“Oh no! The village is under attack!”

Stark adopted a fierce glare in the direction of the screams. Feeling a need to help those people, Stark pulled himself from Aleia’s grasp and ran toward the village.

Aleia

“Stark wait! Don’t go it’s dangerous!”

In the village

Smoke and fire billowed everywhere. The ground was stained crimson from the blood of bodies shredded by machine gun fire. Mortar shells blew apart the hastily constructed buildings. The debris splintered everywhere as the air filled with ash.

The villagers ran every which direction in a panic. Some were trampled to death; others were shot by the weapons of the ATs. Their bones and organs ripped from their bodies in the process. The deafening cry of screams were drowned out by the roar of the ATs guns.

Alpha

“Alpha here. Clean up proceeding as scheduled.”

Brandt

“Copy Alpha. Be sure not to leave any orphans. The U.A. is a compassionate superstate.”

Alpha

“Copy that Greenhouse. Making our way to the center of target.”

As the ATs make their way through the village, they make sure to diligently shoot down any stragglers they find. One of the ATs approach a father and young son with its guns trained on them. The father shields the boy with his body hoping to protect him. As the AT gets ready to fire, a black shadowy mirage attacks the AT, splitting it in half.

Father and son embrace one another relieved to be alive.

Greenhouse

Brandt

“What happened?”

Console Operator

“One of the ATs is down. It has been ripped in half.”

Brandt

“Alpha, one of the ATs is down. Stay alert, you have hostiles present!”

Alpha

“Copy that Greenhouse. Looking for- aaah!”

Brandt

“Alpha! Alpha! Shit! Someone tell me what the hell is going on down there!”

Tiena

One by one the ATs are taken out by the same darkened translucent shape. In rapid succession, ATs are destroyed before they have time to react, each one sliced or smashed to pieces.

Greenhouse

Operator

“Sir. We have lost over half of our forces; we will lose the other half if we don’t abort the operation.”

Brandt

“Damn! Activated the emergency teleportation beacon. Recall all units!”

Operator

“Acknowledged sir.”

On the main screen of the War Room as the units were all teleported away from the village, Brandt caught a glimpse of a shadowy figure, a see-through silhouette acting as if it were flickering in and out of reality.

It was small and had a humanoid shape. It was there for merely a second and then vanished into thin air. A bead of sweat rolled down the side of Brandt’s face as questions race through his mind.

Kinetic Energy Neutralization Fields were designed to neutralize the force of nuclear weapons. To destroy a Synth equipped with one should be impossible without anti-synth weapons, yet none were fired. For the first time in his life Brandt was terrified.

What was that thing? What could be powerful enough to destroy some of the most powerful war machines on earth in the blink of an eye? Brandt was not a man of God. Yet, the only thing he could think to do in that moment was pray.