Chapter 1:
Bunker Command HQ Daylight Hours 1022.
Multiple voices echoed off the metallic walls surrounding the multiple consoles station that littered the room. Figures were situated in each one, each having multiple holographic displays projection all around them. Voices spoke rapidly, relaying messages with no unity, no synchronization yet all were heard.
Through the cacophony of mixed voices, the news had cut through like a hot knife through butter. All voices ceased. Such was the magnitude of what was just received all noise seemingly ceased. Even the machines around the bunker have dimmed in response to the intel. Some much so one could hear the drop of a pin in the room echoing. Even the hum of energy surges powering all the equipment in the chamber.
"What?" was the only response, surprise and shock jolted through the entire cabin of the bunker. The news of what they were hearing shook them to their core. This report was irregular, an impossibility yet here they were. None more so than the sole figure high up above in the upper level. However, the figure quickly regained their bearings. Lucky they were the sole occupant on that floor, so none saw their expression.
"Verify." The singular voice from on high command dais that stood above the room, a hint of forced authority projected through the air.
"Commander it's been confirmed by Vanguard Team there, especially by the Scanner Model with them, we even crossed referenced the data multiple times. The information is genuine."
The one who responded pauses for the briefest moment overlooking the data in the holo screen blinking rapidly yet still seeing the same data. As if trying to test if the information would suddenly change. Yet it didn't. even after reverifying again for the who knows how many times still read as the same.
"There are humans on the Earth." The words came out stiffly as if still unbelievable even by the speaker. "I repeat…...there are humans on the Earth. The vanguard forces have found humans on the surface."
"Humanity still persists upon the surface!"
Five years, ten months and seventy-six hours prior.
"I'm telling you guys man we should try it out at least! Give it a chance!"
The excited voice of a young man in the early twenties boomed through the bustling air. Amidst the turbulence of noise coming from the surrounding environment. Sounds of vehicle engines passing by the multitude of footfalls echoing into a disjointed musical note. The small party was sitting at a table in an outdoor table of a store. Closed off from the sidewalk by a simple barrier. Dividing the property lines between the street and the store. Listening to the bustling life of the city around them. Ignoring the serval onlooking eyes that would glance their way Kang Shi and the group knew why. There was no helping it, for the fact being they stood out among the crowd like a sore thumb.
Seeing their attire was that of the armed forces. It was no brainer why the others around them would be gawking at them. Even if it's not necessarily a rare sight but still rather sore sticking thumb among the masses.
"Hey Kang Shi (Strong Soldier) did you hear me~?!"
"Yeah, I heard you Matthews chill out your goanna blow out my ear drum with your wailing."
"Oh, don't be so dramatic." Matthews threw his hand up in the air, shaking his head in a dramatic manner.
"Me? You're the one whose screaming his lungs out when we're just mere inches away from one another. All about some fantasy that some nobody is selling."
"Come on back me up here Davis." Matthews turned his head to face the figure beside him.
"And what exactly do you want me to say?"
"Tch man you're no help and Tom is still sleeping over here. Hey Tom wake up!"
"I still can't believe that you seriously trust that advertisement?" Kang Shi said before continuing his attention now redirected towards the figure to his side.
"Hey Lu pass it up."
Lu's hearing his friend lazily passed along a slim Translucent rectangular looking device. It felt smooth and cool to the touch. Kang Shi still hasn't gotten use to this new technology. This new
Organic Liquid Display Holoframe. At that moment his thumb tap upon the fluid screen, the screen lit up with an aurora like glow. Dancing in between the fluids, as an array of pictures and icons was projected upon the screen.
"Yeah, this is still weird to me, I prefer the old Holoframe Com units more." He said while still fiddling with the device.
"Hey man, stop being such a dinosaur. Get with the times these things are fire; it's the new trend after all." Matthew said from the side, while shaking his head at Kang Shi.
"Oh shut up. Just because it's a new trend doesn't always mean it's better. I can still do what this thing can with my old Holoframe."
With that Kang Shi then withdrew another device from his pocket with his free hand. Placing an equally sized rectangular device upon the table. This one, however, is obviously more mechanical based unlike the Liquid Display Frame. Both are multiple purpose devices, yet the most defining feature of the Liquid Display Frame. It's very malleable and flexible being able to fold into a more compact form or be stretched and expanded to the size of a mini tablet.
However, to Kang Shi these features are irrelevant now. He was scrolling upon the projected holographic screen from the device.
Yet what was shown didn't alter itself or change midway through his reading. Even shutting and reopening his eyes as if that would magically shift what he was looking at. It still read the following from the article title; Project Seed looking and recruiting any and all applicants!
He studied it intently as if to discover or find some extra information that was displayed upon the screen. He frowned while skimming through the displayed details.
"This just sounds more akin to a drug deal scam. I don't buy it and neither should you." Kang Shi said, concluding his thoughts, tossing the Com unit back to Matthew without a second's hesitation.
"It's a farse I tell you." Kang Shi reiterated. Trying to get his point through to his comrade.
"Hey, come on if it's out in the open like this and the commander's is telling us and asking for volunteers you know it's got to be real. And you know that he doesn't talk bullshit like that." Matthew retorted back at him. His words struck a nerve in Kang Shi.
"I never said I doubt the commander Di." Kang Shi Said in response the words coming off, stronger than he had intended.
"What I am saying, however. This shit sounds more like some project that special forces would be involved in secret not put out in the open asking for volunteers like us regular joes. Especially not being run by some unknown scientist who no one has ever heard of before this. The government would never allow such a thing to pass not without them in charge anyway."
At his words Matthew couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Ha~! Come on, we all know that guys like us have little use to the military now in today's society. The big wings upstairs and their investors are all now more interested in their damn A.I projects and their little play toys." Matthew said his hands danced before him as he spoke, as if trying to further illustrate his point through. No one responded, letting him continue on rambling.
"To care about grunts like us. You heard the rumors we'll be soon phased out and out of a job once those things go full swing. The bill has already gone to the trails. Congress is now in the middle of the debate now; they will soon come to conclusion soon."
Lu sighed, annoyed at that same notion that Matthew had been spewing for the last few weeks now. It was beginning to become an annoyance.
"I doubt it, no matter how advanced technology like that becomes you still need boots on ground. That fact will never change. No matter how advanced technology has progressed."
Tom scoffed then. Humored by that notion of his words. Though his eyes didn't hide his discomfort.
"Yeah, for cleaning and other menial task while all their expensive toys get to have all the action. We're effectively out of a job so to speak."
"That's why we must ensure Project Spectral succeeds no matter what." Kang Shi responded back with fire in his eyes. His palm clenched tightly till his knuckles turned white. "We can still have a future if we help Commander Di finish his work, not paying any heed to some misleading hope of an uncertain future, let along if it's even creditable to begin with. We need to be realistic not-"
Beep-beep-beep. Suddenly the mechanical droning note blared through the air between the group. This caused everyone to look towards the source of the new disturbance. Kang Shi who was looking down at his wrist at his wrist device.
"That's the timer we should start heading back now breaks over. Let's start heading back." Kang Shi announced standing up from his seat. His thumb hovered over the display screen on the table they sat upon, before tapping down once the receipt was displayed. Paying for the table they just sat at.
"Why do you still have that old thing grandpa? You have a Comm device, yet you still carry a watch."
"Oh, be quiet already." It was the only reply that Kang Shi gave. Having not the energy to even give a more energetic response to Matthew's constant nagging.
"Oh you-." His words were cut short. For his eyes became fixated upon something in front of the group. Curious, the others turned to face what had captivated their friend's attention. Walking past the group a young female. Dressing in a neat trimmed, skintight uniform. Showing off the near perfect curves, the absolute form that would be the envy of any woman, and the desire of any man. Yet upon seeing this young lady Kang Shi and the rest gave a mixture of different gazes at the female. One gave the look of distrust, another a look of disgust many held uncertainty and uncomfortably.
"Those things seriously just give me the creeps." Lu visibly shuddered, before taking his eyes off the figure. Refocusing his sights forward.
"Hey, come on, I know you don't trust stuff like this. But come on, you know how ingrained those things are in society right now. People rely on those things nowadays." Tom patted Lu's back as if to reassure his friend, though Lu was having none of it. He then let out a loud scoff.
"Yeah, but come on, you mean to tell me that there isn't a single person in the world that can't help but think back on Skynet or Terminator vibes looking at those things. And back to how 'helpful; yeah, they are. Sure, they're really helpful by taking away our jobs." He began to rant.
"No matter how appealing or humanlike they become they're still not us, they're just tools that some sicko gave our faces and looks upon some machinal tool. It's disgusting trying to humanize a tool. It's still a tool but with a human face and form."
Looking back at the passing figure behind them. Kang Shi didn't verbally agree with Lu. But deep down in his heart he too also understood Lu's perspective. For the subject matter of the topic at hand, was not a flesh and blood human female, but an advanced android known as Andro-HIE or their latter designation HIE (Humanoid Interactive Endogeneity / Endo) for short. Designed with highly powerful computer and sophisticated AI (artificial intelligence) minds, with the most advanced interactive systems. Along with the best aesthetics of natural humans of the most desirable features. Making them near almost perfect humans.
With the androids having closely integrated with human society and heavily relied upon for the simplest mundane task. Becoming a staple of public and private life, their emergence, however, has triggered fear within some people. Public reception of androids has been mixed. While many benefiting from and enjoy the use of androids, being used in large numbers in a variety of functions, having replaced many of the human workforce. Thus, many resent the HIE in response to these fears. Leading to many upheavals in society. For one many jobs throughout society had been outsourced to the Andro-HIE. The increasing number of androids being put into the workforce pushed out the human workers or otherwise make them become obsolete, leading to record unemployment at 28%, which is a major cause of resentment of androids.
Others are unsettled by and wary of the nature, implications, and potential repercussions, and as such have social or religious objections. Main reasoning being that they're so human it was almost impossible for regular humans to tell the android apart from a true human. Humans were staring down at a better, more efficient version of themselves, they were no longer just a competition for people, these tools were becoming their replacement. That thought sent a chill down Kang Shi's spine; he banished the thought from his mind refocusing on the present.
"Forget it guys lets go we're going to be late if we get caught up in the upcoming traffic back to base."
Kang Shi having reached at the end of the corner where they parked their vehicle. Hurrying his companions along into the large SUV. Once inside Kang Shi wasted no time and drove off into the busting street filled with other vehicles each
Passing by all so familiar sights of the goliath structures all around them. Driving past the bustling street and into a rural wilderness. Open plains as far as the eye can see, a sea of natural green. Driving down the singular highway the vehicle soon came upon a set of structures far off in the horizon. Upon registering themselves at the front post leading inside they continued on their way inside.
Heading towards a particular building. Its front was an open bay floor near devoid of any equipment that should be stored within. Driving into the open lot within the hanger bay. The vehicle was guided by an automated system into the designated parking space. An array of light and holographic display assisted the vehicle. The automatic system itself was more than sufficient to function without manual input. However, Kang Shi didn't do so, it was a preference of his that he be in control not the machine.
He manually drove the vehicle into place despite the auto assistance. He performed the maneuver almost as precise as any machine could. Kang Shi relished that feeling of not being obsolete. Humanity has gotten far too soft and lazy in his opinion. Doing something as mundane and simple as this proves to him at least that humanity still can function without machines. Exiting the vehicle Kang Shi was greeted with a foreboding sight.
There stood a group of people waiting upon the tiled floor panels that awaited them. He recognized them as fellow colleagues. He was about to greet, when he suddenly noticed their expressions. "What happened?" Kang Shi asked, sensing the tension in the air. The chatter ceased with the rest of the group as well coming out of the vehicle.
"It's done. They are shutting us down." The lead figure spoke his voice almost neutrally, robotic devoid of any emotion. Those words hit the entire group like a frag grenade. The realization of those words took moments to register in their minds before their reactions came.
"What do you mean? The tests so far have been successful, we've passed through the initial test phase. The board is waiting for the results; we're at the home stretch. Alex what the Hell?! We even have the presentation scheduled for today!" Kang Shi began to rant. Despite knowing it wouldn't change the results. He just had to release it out. And the subject of his rant fell to the one named Alex.
"Yeah well, they've pulling our plug. They're reviewing the redistribution of federal funds for a more 'affordable' measure. They say." Alex punctuated the last part of his sentence.
Now it was Kang Shi turn to throw up his hands. Letting out a sigh of exacerbation. Yet there was nothing else that he could say at the moment. No one could, what was there even to say.
"They're shutting us down…...all for that damn sycophant 's little doll project." Alex spat with frustration. Barely containing the raw angry that was present in his voice.
"Has the commander said anything?" Kang Shi asked Alex, his voice tinged upon the edge of hope.
"Nothing he went to contest the ruling, but we've haven't heard anything from him yet. It's been three hours since he has left."
Alex then responded, pinching the tip of his nose. All hints of any fighting spirit lost in those words. There was nothing and that greatly unnerved Kang Shi. Something had to be done. This couldn't be their end, they have given too much to this cause that would decide their fates. All their fates and that of their brother of arms within the military depended on this project's success.
A thought suddenly flashed into Kang Shi's mind. He quickly spoke his mind. "Has the inspection delegation arrived yet?"
This drew a raised eyebrow from Alex as he still replied. "Yes, they are still here, they arrived over an hour ago, they're waiting in the observatory.
Then the realization of the question came to Alex. "Wait what do you have in mind?"
At that Kang Shi smirked. As a fire began to flicker within his eyes. As if life was suddenly restored into his features.
"We still owe the audience a show, don't we? Can't have them come all this way without delivering on our part."
He waited for no response as he then began striding towards the portal leading into the building. The other quickly rushed behind him into the complex, each having their own glint in their eyes upon the realization of his words.
Soon after some time had passed Kang Shi now walked down one of the many hallways in the building. Now kitted out in an entirely new uniform. Resembling that of a diving suit, lace with intricate wiring and other hidden machinery. Beneath its tightly knit fibers. In this hallway with only Lu beside himself. For a while no one spoke, only the accompany footfalls of their boots echoing off the walls to fill the void between them.
"You know that this plan of your will back blast us like hard if we do this right?" Lu asked the question towards Kang Shi despite already knowing the answer.
"Oh, I know."
Kang Shi spoke casually without a hint of worry in his voice. "But~"
He drew out his words before continuing. "This could be our salvation if we succeed with this presentation, it will keep us afloat for as much as possible, we don't have a choice."
Knag Shi said with such conviction and vigor exuding an aura of confidence.
Lu couldn't help but feel the confidence from Kang Shi. As if rubbing off him, Lu felt as though he could be the salvation that they needed.
"Alright but none of those stunts that you like to pull we can't risk any issues." Lu relented but still tried to caution his friend. As he also handed him a device to Kang Shi resembling a helmet.
"The system will be kept at the lowest threshold no raising the bar or threading upon the safety parameters understood."
Kang Shi didn't respond back but a simple nod and a smile. Arriving at the end of the corridor passing through the portal the duo found themselves, in a room filled with machinery, a singular contraption resembling a Thorne laced with wires and numerous machines giving it a bloated look.
"We all ready Alex?" Knag Shi asked one of the figures in the room. Alex in a lab coat over his uniform while he was tinkering with the Thorne Dais, turned to Kang Shi walking up to him.
"We just finished the last of the checks just now, all systems are green."
Alex said as Kang Shi situated himself within the Throne. Others came up assisting him plugging wires into the interface ports on Kang Shi's suit and various other devices.
"Are you sure you're ready for this? Once we go through with this there's no turning back. Are you sure you can pull this off?" he then asked the rhetorical question despite already knowing the answer.
"I'm sure now, let's get this show on the road." Kang Shi said before donning on the helmet device. Before long the hum of the machinery echoed in his ear before darkness took hold of him.