PROLOGUE
C.E 43 Mendel Colony, Lagrange Area 4. January 13th. (10:30AM)
When one sets their goals and dreams far beyond what they truly believe to be possible to achieve, actually achieving it created a feeling of wonder that was truly impossible to describe with coherent words. At the age of six, Ulen Hibiki had been truly amazed with the beginning of the construction of the colonies in Lagrange Area 4. He had watched the television as a child and had often dreamed of working in Mendel one day, of being one of those who could truly show greatness to the world… Like George Glenn. Mendel was his calling. Glenn was his hero. At the age of six, Ulen had always searched for news and developments of the colony, until it was finally officially opened two years after its construction, when he had been eight and was already shining far more brightly than his classmates.
Ulen had never been an ignorant child. With his astounding admiration for George Glenn, he had discovered the existence of Coordinators at a very young age and could not help but envy Glenn for the gift he had, being born in such a way that made him superior than others from birth. As a result, Ulen strived to be like him. He had studied genetic engineering, had excelled in biology, chemistry, physics and maths, and had astounded teachers and friends with his mental capabilities. Sometimes, he even often pretended as if he was a Coordinator. He had been certain, even as a child, that even though genetic manipulation was forbidden, there were still Coordinators around him. Perhaps not many. But enough. And he had been suspected of being one numerous times – and he liked it. The prospect of being far beyond than the others of his race was a thrilling thought, one that he sought and drank thirstily.
Perhaps it was therefore no surprise when he finally found himself at the place of his calling, at the young age of twenty. Mendel Colony.
He had been working as a scientist in a research lab in the Atlantic Federation when he had been summoned to direct his mind to Mendel's research laboratory. The research lab in Mendel was perhaps one of the most sophisticated in their universe, save for the Zodiac laboratory in Lagrange Area 5. Needless to say, Ulen had been ecstatic. He did not waste a second in accepting the offer.
Now, looking at the steps that would lead him to the main hangar of Mendel, Ulen believed he could quite easily hear his heart thumping against his chest. The idea that he was here, finally here... was overwhelming. There was just something about taking the first step that he loved. Sometimes, actually achieving the dream was not the biggest high. Sometimes, it was that first step taken to obtain it. And here he was, still standing at the mouth of the shuttle, his eyes on the silver walls surrounding him. He knew what Mendel looked like. A space colony like the others, beautiful in its own artificial way. But he had never seen it with his own two eyes.
The pilot of the shuttle suddenly appeared at the door. "Dr. Hibiki? If you step down now, please. I believe someone is waiting for you."
Of course someone was waiting. He had been expected. Invited. "Very well," Ulen answered, feeling very young now as he finally raised his foot and stepped down, away from the shuttle, and into Mendel. "Where should I go?"
The pilot turned, pointing towards a large open door by the side of the hangar. "In there. There are several elevators. Take the one on the left, and it should be on the first floor. I hope you have had a nice journey getting here," he said, smiling slightly.
Ulen looked at him. The pilot had dark hair and blue eyes – he was obviously much older than Ulen, but something about those blue eyes spelled youth. A youthful soul in an experienced body. Ulen knew that his eyes were the exact opposite. He was too young for what he knew, for what he had achieved. And though youthfulness at an old age was attractive, he would never trade what he had in turn for what the currently-nameless pilot had. Ah. James. There was the name right there, on the smart uniform. "Thank you. I had a good ride," Ulen answered, giving a polite nod before turning to head to the doors.
It was like walking in a dream. Ulen had been in space numerous times. He had been to the Zodiac research facility twice, had met George Glenn once (and nearly made a fool out of himself with the stammering), and had also circled the Earth on three different occasions. Quite a wonderful accomplishment for a Natural at the age of twenty, if he could say so himself. His resume was astounding, his achievements memorable. He had a Masters, and was well on his way in getting a doctorate - his degree had covered several fields. To think that he, Ulen Hibiki, a Natural no less, would be called here to Mendel above the Coordinators was... amazing. Tolerance to the Coordinators had only been lifted thirteen years ago – a large number of Coordinators were now thirteen or younger, but their achievements were exactly like Glenn's. Or they were going to be. Their numbers were increasing, and there were now several second-generation Coordinators who apparently had inherited the same gifts as their lucky parents.
Ulen let out a wistful sigh. If he was going to think about Coordinators, he would be trapped in his thoughts for hours.
Yet, thankfully, he could think and walk at the same time. By the time he forced himself away from his admiration of Coordinators and genetic manipulation, he was already moving up the elevator to the first floor. The elevator was plain – there was simply no point in putting a pretty elevator in the middle of the hangar. He glanced at his reflection, almost noticing what he had been wearing for the first time since he left his home in the Atlantic Federation. He was dressed in black trousers, a white shirt with an unbuttoned collar, a jacket that was slung on one arm and a briefcase. His luggage will be delivered to him in time. Ulen looked into his eyes – golden, fiery eyes, and ran a hand through his hair, almost the exact shade of his eyes. It was close-cropped, so he did not need to worry much about looking like he had been travelling for too long. Overall, he looked decent enough.
The doors to the elevator slid open and Ulen stepped out, scanning the place. It was a reception room, and only a few individuals dotted the area. One in particular stood out to him because the woman was staring right at him. She had dark brown hair and eyes, also wearing a pair of spectacles that was a rather rare sight these days, and was dressed smartly in a grey business suit. She only nodded to him once – a gesture he returned – before motioning for him to come with her. Ulen followed. There was no exchange between them – she knew his name, and he knew that he would most likely learn hers in good time if it was important for him to do so. Ulen did not worry about unnecessary details.
Whoever this woman was, she knew the place well. Apparently, she also held some sort of authority in the place, for nobody questioned her – not the guards, not the workers, nobody, even as they walked through the restricted corridors and stairs. They moved quietly, two individuals united for an unknown cause, and only stopped once they reached an office located in a deserted corridor on a deserted floor. Ulen arched his eyebrow. The place seemed secluded enough. Under different circumstances, he would have felt threatened, but he was a scientist. If there was one thing scientists should be well aware of, it was the need of upmost secrecy... especially when concerning genetic manipulation. He followed her into the room, surprised when there was another man in the room who shut the door behind him. There was a desk, two chairs facing each other, and nothing more.
"Please sit down, Dr. Hibiki," the woman said politely.
Ulen followed. "I suppose this job I am needed to do is one that is under strict regulations?" he guessed easily.
The woman smiled. "Clearly. Your intellectual levels should not have any problem in figuring that out," she said, seating herself on the chair. The man remained motionless by the door. "My name is Alice Holmes. Head of the Genetic Modification Department of GENESIS," she said quietly.
Ulen allowed the words to sink in. Genetic Engineering Nano Entity of the Scientific Innovation Society. GENESIS. The Head of the GMD of GENESIS. Suddenly, Ulen felt light-headed.
The Scientific Innovation Society (SIS) was firstly established by scientists and researchers decades and decades ago as an international common ground to share research findings and theories. From there, it grew, a unity of those with high IQs who created the world's wonders. There was no engineering or scientific development without at least a hand connected with the SIS. Everything was connected to the SIS. One of the first factions under it was the A.L.I.C.E faction, otherwise known as the Artificial Linguistic Internet Computer Entity. The Genetic Engineering Nano Entity was one of the latest, and also the largest. It was known as GENE for short, though many scientists preferred to call it GENESIS, as the Genetic Engineering Nano Entity under the Scientific Innovation Society. Ulen had had delusions of joining GENESIS. It was a faction that covered numerous factions, from genetic research, genetic modification, genetic engineering, genetic creation and evolution and so many others. It was the faction that anyone with brains knew had created the miracle that was George Glenn. Even the name given to the faction was every scientist's dream. Genesis. The origin, the birth, the mode of formation of something new and wonderful. GENESIS.
The young scientist blinked. "A pleasure to meet you, Dr. Holmes. This is truly... an honour."
Alice smiled. "We are, of course, looking for potential scientists and that is why you are here. In this case, the pleasure is all mine."
What could GENESIS, home of all the brilliant scientists, want with him? If Ulen had been feeling small before this, he felt altogether insignificant now. "I am very interested to know why I have been called here." Technically speaking, he had still been working under the SIS back in the Atlantic Federation. But his work on genetic research and identification was minuscule compared to what he could do here. Trying to contribute to the SIS as a scientist under the Atlantic Federation was like a toy rocket designer contributing to the Federal Aeronautics and Space Administration – there might be a chance of contribution, but a very small, very insignificant one.
The brown-haired scientist looked at him curiously. Ulen returned the gaze. He had no idea if Alice was a Coordinator or a Natural. The early Coordinators, those born in absolute secrecy when genetic modification had been forbidden, typically had Natural appearances, unlike the time of the Coordinator boom thirteen years ago which suddenly gave rise to a whole load of different and unnatural appearances in hair and eye colour. If Alice was a Coordinator, she would have been one of the very first. At first glance, it would be impossible to know if she was a Coordinator. She could, quite literally, hide the truth to herself for the rest of her life.
She took her time answering, weighing him with her warm brown eyes. But eventually, she shook her head, the smile on her lips again. "We are here, of course, to offer you a job. There is a new faction under GENESIS... A new faction under GMD of GENESIS even, I would go as far as to say, for this is the work of genetic modification. But it is also genetic research, and genetic engineering. You will be able to explore far more than we normally give our scientists, but we need fresh minds to work and yours seem rather promising, based on your performances," she said, amusement glinting in her eyes. Ulen raised an eyebrow. "Two years ago, we finally witnessed the birth of our first second-generation Coordinators. But there is a problem that we have not foreseen," she said, leaning forwards, lacing her fingers together. "The second-generation Coordinators seemed to have some defects with their genes. Reproduction, if our hypothesis is correct, will be truly difficult unless if there is a compatible match between the parents. This is far too early to confirm, but the problem is there," she said quietly.
Ulen held his breath.
"We have assembled a team which you will join, should you accept this offer. It is to study the nature of the second-generation Coordinators, and perhaps determine if there is an external factor influencing the successful production of Coordinators by genetic manipulation. Coordinators are a leap from where we stand, a new step towards evolution... But one could only evolve if they are able to reproduce," she said, smiling slightly. "It is not the biggest research ever, I do admit. Nor the most challenging. But it is our way of watching you, of evaluating whether or not you will be able to work in the more advanced areas of GENESIS as you proceed. Perhaps this is just a trial. Perhaps you may find something groundbreaking. That is up to you to decide," she said, pausing for effect. "Will you join?"
His dream. His chance. His calling. He would be a fool if he refused such an offer. He was a scientist. Failure was inevitable. Triumph was the miracle he sought. "I would be more than honoured to."
Alice smiled. She stood, and Ulen did as well, taking her outstretched hand. "Welcome to GENESIS."
Author's Note: I'm amazed I suddenly had the sudden uncontrollable urge to write this. I thought this was something I wanted to do after Renegade, not while I'm still working on it. But Renegade will still be the first priority, so updates for this fic will not be as regular. But it will be there. This fic will focus heavily on Ulen Hibiki. You'll see a lot of Via, you'll probably see a lot of Patrick and Lenore Zala and a lot of Seigel Clyne as well. There's Flaga, there's Creuset, and towards the end, there will be Kira and Cagalli. The whole story will follow the canon Gundam timeline very closely. This is my take on Ulen's life, on the lives of our heroes' parents before they were born. There is a plot behind it, and a story, as well as a few links between characters that you might not expect. Overall, I hope you'll enjoy it, because I certainly enjoyed writing the prologue. A shout-out to Maderfole who suggested the idea of this fic in the first place! In any case, thank you for reading, and I hope you'll drop a review and stay with me on this new journey in the SEED world.