07:00 UTC, September 3rd, 2048 CE | Earth Orbit / Sycos Battleship / Bridge
(Ship AI):”Attention passengers, we have now arrived in the orbit of Earth. Please standby for purging procedures.”
Ray:”Wait, what the klack do you mean by purging–”
She doesn't get a chance to finish her question. Instantly, all the air is sucked out of the room and it fills up with a strange soapy sudsy foam. Some gets into my eyes and it makes its way down my throat as well.
It feels as though it is scorching my insides and invading my veins. I feel as though every cell in my body is being systematically killed and reborn. It is strangely not that painful though. Almost calming to an extent.
The entire sensation lasts for about one minute and then it quickly subsides. The foam disappears and the bridge is repressurized.
Emil:”What in the world was that!”
Rigar:”I concur, that was quite an absurd assault with no warning,”
Initae:”Oh relax, you bunch of babies. It was just standard IEC protocol when entering a system that is under quarantine. Most humans still have not had augmentation kits installed, so exposure to foreign substances and pathogens could cause mass extinction.”
Ray:”Oh, so by purging, it meant all of the non-human stuff on the ship. So that we don't kill our brethren by going back. Makes sense.”
Ko:”Couldnt they have invented a better way of doing it that's less invasive though?”
“Shut up you little baby Ko. How else do you propose to cleanse every single cell and surface in the ship? Can't exactly do it with normal cleaning supplies.”
With that, the purging of the ship is complete and we are now cleared to interact with human society once again. By the way, not long after we reviewed the communication, we arranged to come to Earth. It's not like we have anything better to do than follow my father’s lead.
Ray walks up next to me while I'm staring out the viewport at Earth. She leans into my side and whispers into my ear, “It's sure strange, being back here after all that has happened.”
“Yeah, it feels like we have been gone for years. But we left in the middle of July and its the start of September. We weren't even gone for a full season.”
“We sure had a lot of adventures on Earth. Caused more than our fair share of mischief.”
“Yep, and now we get to cause even more mischief. But this time across the entire universe.”
We stand like that for several minutes while we wait for the cruiser to be readied for undocking. It's been a while since it's been used so the engineers are checking it over a few times.
“Gotta say, our home sure is beautiful.”
“Of course, it is the homeworld of the Moonlight Duo after all. Of course it would be as dazzling as we are.”
Initae:”Alright you two kiddos, enough with your totally-not-flirting. Let's find out what Ducker senior says is so important.”
We head into the hangar bay and board the Borealis.
“Welcome back, Captain Ducker and Lieutenant Inan. It has been quite a while, I trust you have been well?”
“Sure have Bor!” Ray says as she slides into the Lieutenants chair on the bridge. “Lets get this party started, destination: Ko’s former apartment.”
Ko:”Hey, uh, it's kind of a bit cramped in here isn't it.”
The bridge is currently occupied by five people; me, Ray, Rigar (the giant is taking up like ? of the room), Emil and Initae. It is way too overcrowded and we are definitely breaking a few safety codes.
Initiate:"Meh, don't worry ‘bout it, just means we are all cozied up together as a crew.”
We, on the very packed bridge, descend down to Earth. Of course, with the ship it's super duper quick.
Ray:”Woah, those buildings have definitely changed! Those too! Wow, everything is so different! Are those antimatter power plants under construction?”
Initae:”Indeed they are! Humanity has been making great strides in its progress towards becoming an interstellar species. The world leaders have adapted quite well and started integrating the technology caches at a far above average rate. Though, we only have three data points to determine that average, so who knows about its true worth.”
Below us, as we descend is a changed planet. Many buildings are significantly taller, thanks to the alien alloys. I also notice that many other technologies we have seen are dotted around. Like I can tell that off in the distance a WRN network hub is being constructed, as well as antimatter power plants as Ray mentioned.
As we descend, I notice that air traffic starts to avoid us and many cars are clearing out of the way on the street below. Man, automated systems are so nice. We can just casually disrupt the flow of the city and everything just complies.
The Borealis makes a landing on the city street. Similar to how it originally landed when I first took off from Earth. It's kinda strange, almost as if history is repeating itself but in reverse.
We file out of the cruiser, It feels very surreal.
Ray:”Woah, it looks so strange. It's almost like we are viewing it from the lens of an old person coming back to their hometown.”
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
“Hmm, yeah, the mix of all that we have seen and our new fancy tech. Really puts into perspective just how small our lives were compared to it all.”
Ray grabs my hand again and gives it a squeeze. We walk into my former home building, hand in hand. Of course, the gaggle of the Aetherian, Itokin and god trail behind us.
The elevator is too small for all of us (Rigar can't even fit inside, so they must wait on the ground floor), so Ray, Initae and I go up first. Emil decides to wait with Rigar. He seems absolutely fascinated with human architecture and how everything is so strange. Guess it makes sense, humans are at the technology level just before Emil’s people used to be at. Must feel somewhat nostalgic to the poor guy.
As we stand in the elevator, Ray’s hand still in my own, an awkward silence fills the air. After about fifty seconds, it dings and opens up into my apartment.
It appears exactly as I left it. Coffee pot still plugged in, sofa against the wall. The TV still hung up on the wall. A rush of memories of my entire life flood back in. From the times where I would be synced in and playing netgames for days consecutively. To the two times when Ray came over to visit.
Ray:”Wow, this sure brings back memories.”
“Sure does. Though, it feels like I am a ghost and don't belong anymore. Almost as if the Kovon of back then is dead.”
“Dont worry, you're still the same worthless jerk as you always have been.” She says with a light punch to my shoulder, a true classic.
“Thanks for those brilliant words of comfort, you always know exactly what to say.”
“‘Tis my pleasure, as a genius and all. What else are friends for?”
There is one difference in the place. On the coffee table in front of the sofa there is a box. A very alien looking box, definitely not human tech. We walk over to the sofa and Ray and I sit down. Preparing for the worst of what this box will reveal.
Initae:”Well, here goes nothing. Let's let the world shatter I suppose.”
Ray grabs tightly onto my arm, as I push the button on the top of the box.
Moments later, a window showing my father in a strange looking lab appears. He looks quite disheveled, and his beard is very unkempt. His lab coat is covered in stains of who knows what. The video begins playing, and there is narration layered over it, it appears to be my father. I will transcribe it the best I can below;
July 12th, 2029 CE | [Redacted] Bioengineering Lab (Kraven Ducker POV)
“Director Ducker, I am pleased to inform you that the procedure was a success. As expected, Mrs. Ducker has passed away as a result of the experiment.”
My chief lab tech tells me this information. But the weight of what has been accomplished here today has yet to fully sink in. The first successful test of a biomodification experiment that has been in testing for quite a while.
Allow me to explain, little Ko.
Some ten years prior to this moment, I was approached by an entity. They claimed to be an emissary for an alien organization and wished for me to conduct a research project for them.
After a bit of skepticism, which was alleviated by proof they provided. I enthusiastically accepted their project. Although with a few conditions of my own of course.
They took me to a super duper top secret lab on Luna. Kitted out with the craziest tech I've ever seen. I bet you know some of that feeling by now.
They told me further details of the project. I was to artificially create a hybrid of a human and a species thought to be responsible for the formation of the entire universe. Dubbed, the Vikea. They were a species that supposedly long ago ruled a world similar to ours, but they met a catastrophic end.
I was given several samples of these supposed Vikea people. They were like nothing I have ever seen. Somehow both biological but also spiritual in a sense. They contained this intense energy that I have never seen before. It appeared to defy all laws of physics.
Unfortunately, I was prevented from experimenting with this energy. Instead, I used my biomedical expertise to work on the primary project, a Vikea-Human hybrid. For reasons I won't explain here, humans are highly compatible with the Vikean concept, and thus I was scouted by this organization to perform the research due to my advanced knowledge of the human body and psyche – stemming from my research into brain-computer interfaces of course.
By all measures, the research went very well. We made great progress and even managed to synthesize a few hybrid cells. However, the core issue was revealed, the process was highly unstable and thus made it nigh impossible to create a whole organism.
The difficult solution was to use a living human as an incubator along with some advanced alien tech to provide the needed stability. Unfortunately, this process was certain to kill the host.
Naturally, we couldn't exactly just pick up any random human off the street. There was only one other human that was clued into this whole mess – my wife. Due to my condition that I initially set that she must come with me.
Of course, pursuit of science trumps the value of any life. So, we began the process.
Several months later, on July 12th, 2029, the project succeeded. We managed to create a Vikean-human hybrid. However, in order to stabilize the genome properly, we were only able to add in about 25% Vikean constitution. Meaning the hybrid would by nearly all tests and indicators be considered human. It wouldn't be until the child is much older that we hypothesized that the Vikean traits would begin to show.
Primary among these traits would be a drastically increased affinity to manipulate this strange energy. As well as an unbelievable ability to cognitively process information. Also, as one ages, there might be some slight physical changes to embody Vikean traits, though we are uncertain of this.
Now, my son. I'm sure you have already deduced where this is heading.
In order to properly nurture the child’s development, I was allowed to take the child back to Earth and raise it as a normal human. I tried my best to give it a happy life, but my work, both for the organization as well as my newly founded company – which was provided assistance by the alien organization, allowing massive acceleration to the NeuralSink development – occupied much of my time.
Little Ko. You are that child.
A roughly 75% human, 25% Vikean hybrid, created in an experiment to make progress in rebirthing that long dead civilization.
I am sorry that I have been a horrible father to you. I really wish I could've done more. You are the thing that I am most proud of in this world, my perfect creation.
I wish I could speak more, but things have taken a strange turn. I will soon be taken into custody, as I have been disagreeing with various ideas of this organization. I might be killed, or worse – brainwashed into doing their bidding.
I am truly sorry. But I know that you will be a key force that shall shape this universe. My oh so great son. May the stars guide you beyond this plane and into those far beyond.
[This Building will self destruct in three seconds]
Before I can have a chance to let the message sink in, Initae grabs both of us and shifts us away. Then she disappears and appears moments later with Emil and Rigar in tow.
We are on a grassy plain. I can see corn fields in the distance, so we are likely somewhere in central North America.
I freeze up.
My entire body just stops working as my mind works to try to comprehend what I just heard.
I might've heard someone say my name in the distance. I notice a faint sensation of someone holding me.
I, Kovon Ducker, am an experiment. A Vikean-Human hybrid, created (at the expense of my mother’s life) to rebuild a long dead civilization that is likely responsible for the formation of the entire universe.
After some time I lose consciousness from the shock.
I'm not sure that Ray and I together will be quite enough to overcome this. Perhaps moonlight won't quite be enough. I am unsure. I am afraid. What even am ‘I’?
End of Chapter 49
A/N: Hiya dear reader. Author here once again! Don't worry, there are still many more chapters to come. You might be wondering what the heck any of this might mean, but you shall see, in time. Also, the next chapter might just be the best one I've written yet. So be sure to stay tuned for tomorrow.
As always, if you are enjoying this story, be sure to follow/favourite/leave a review and share with a friend, it is always appreciated! Until we shall encounter each other again, dear reader.
- Cathrix