Episode I: Origins

Chapter 2-1:

Electrifying Results

In a far-away solar system stood three planets, all unified in a single orbit around the single blue star that shone brightly in the center. An arid planet full of danger and rich with lucre; a blue planet filled with life and prosperity; and finally another blue planet with six rings surrounding it. On this planet, war was fiercely taking place, as was it was on the other two. Four races vied for power over the others; the humans and their creations: Newmans, Beasts, and CASTs. Deep in a lush, yet war torn forest; experiments most secret and vile were being performed. A sophisticated and elaborately designed complex was jutting out amongst the trees and foliage. The complex was well guarded by militarized CASTs that were busy patrolling the grounds. The complex itself was well fortified and gigantic; the walls of technology stood at least fifty feet tall and were seamless and beige in its brilliant luster. Two guards stopped their rounds to communicate with each other. Both of them were a darker brown with green hues, indicating that they were intentionally trying to blend in with their environment. Their orange visors gleamed brightly with the reflection of sunlight, making it hard to distinguish the faces that hid behind them. In their hands were high-powered rifles, all fully loaded and cocked to kill at a moment's notice.

"So did you hear anything last night?" one of them finally said to the other.

"Yeah, I did hear something. Someone said they even saw some filthy humans prowling the exteriors of the perimeter we set up. This is my seventeenth time on security detail for this project. It is getting ridiculous. Each time we set it up, at the last second it fails and those freaking humans manage to get in and disrupt everything. It is almost like they are told of these facilities' positions in advance!" the other responded.

"I know. I'm confident for this test though. We have the Multi-Bladed General with us this time."

"Really?! The same general that somehow succeeded in taking on an entire battalion of humans by himself without killing a single one of them?"

"The one and the same. I don't know how he does, or why. I'd almost think he had sympathy for those worthless flesh-bags."

"…What exactly are you implying?" a voice called from behind them. The two grunts turned around slowly to notice that the man they were idolizing was waiting directly behind them. The general stood slightly smaller than them, just above five feet in height. His overly-muscular body proved intimidating enough as it was; then there was the fact that his six deadly and legendary blades that he sheathed on a six way belted stash that edged out behind him. On his back were two even larger two-handed blades; they both extended out of his flowing, pure black mantle that was decorated with various medals and honors. His body was as black as pitch as well as red as dried blood, the only other indications of color were present in the sheen-less grey that appeared around the joints of his arms and legs as well as the small of his back. What really added to the trepidation of him just standing there was his emotionless helmet which obscured any idea of what he was feeling or thinking. It had three grey prongs that extended in a three different areas, as well as being as night-bearing and crimson wielding as the rest of his body.

"Are you implying that you actually require my help to do your jobs? Sixteen times you have failed! Sixteen times! You should consider yourself lucky that you even are allowed to serve under me! And what of these humans you speak of? What did they look like?" the general harangued.

"...Uh, I heard they were wearing white and black clothes, they cut around the ankles and the waist in a ribbon fashion, they were both wearing goggles and inspecting the vicinity…" one of the grunts nervously spoke, stammering with each and every word.

"And why exactly didn't you apprehend them right then and there?! The description you gave is just of that of Illuminus spies! You claim that they are told off of each location yet when they are caught red-handed clearly surveying their next move, you simply just let them?!"

"…Well…uh…"

"Pathetic, both of you! Get back to your rounds before I have to reprimand you two myself!"

With their tails between their legs, they both ran in opposite directions before nervously shuddering as they strode around the grounds on patrol. The general gazed out on both of the corners of his eyes before grabbing the corner of his mantle while quickly turning about to enter the facility itself. The complex appeared to be even larger from the inside than out. The multi-level base went well underground; various machines and testing equipment were being operated by CASTs of different shapes, sizes and colors. The general marched this way through the central catwalk as people left and right immediately dropped what they were doing to salute him. An elevator awaited the general, doors open, at the end of the catwalk; he took it down to the bottom floor where the "real" testing was taking place. A sergeant awaited the general when the elevator doors opened again at the bottom floor.

"How is the progress going?" the general asked while he continued his boastful stride; the sergeant submissively trailed behind him.

"Despite our previous sixteen failures, we believe that this one will be the winner. Our 'Fulminating Shadow' project has managed to get us this far…regardless of our setbacks and interferences. The scientists even think that prototype testing will be able to begin today at your ready, sir" the military peon droned.

"Excellent. I shall return to my quarters where I will contact the Council and let them know that the prototypes will be initialized today. I will return; I expect the test to be ready when I do."

"Understood." The sergeant cupped his fists in a bow and hurried off to urge the scientists to organize themselves as swiftly as possible. At the back of the room was a single door that emerged slightly from the wall to side of various tubes and fluid-filled mechanisms that embellished the room in copious quantities and stylish configurations. Once inside, the general took off his mantle and threw it on the floor, as if he never really cared that it was there in the first place. A white desk sat in front of a glass-like cabinet that extended the length of the wall behind it. On the desk sat two prongs, once the general sat down on the desk, light emitted between them and a computer interface materialized from it. Various design specifications ran left and right through the interface, the computer stopped on a single image and lines of coding. The image displayed the seventeenth model of the 'Fulminating Shadow' project: a gold and blue bodied CAST with black highlights and white undertones. A helmet design that had an enormous spike appeared out of a six slotted hexagonal faceplate. The six slots allowed for sight, and the horn applied for both intimidation and function. The horn extended past the rest of the physical helmet which ended nearly halfway through the horns length. The front coned around the horn but didn't touch it, where it didn't touch it was a grey bladed fixture that connected to the conical gold feature that rounded itself to the back which had a black patch on the bottom end. The helmet itself concealed a face guard that was the actual black part of the helmet, which was visible from viewing the space between the horn and helmet itself. The face guard had a gold outline that only gave out from the black center for two openings for the eyes. As the basis of anatomy states; form follows function. The knight-like appearance of this CAST held various modifications that would allow for the receiving end of its wrath to face terrible results. The main feature that was evident on it was the vivid and ethereal cyan-like color that appeared in various parts of the body; also coincidentally being its eye color. Its base skin color was a very light greyish-red, almost like if someone was sunburnt while being slightly covered in grey clay. Hair wasn't necessary, but this one came with a messy brown hair cut, it fit snuggly inside its helmet and face guard. The arms were well armored and serrated, allowing amplification of its sinister purpose. The shoulders were sharp and had large ports on the back. These ports were similarly seen on the bottoms of its feet, a smaller on its neck and back of its waist, and finally small ones on each side of its ankles. Its torso was gold with white; the separation between the two was made apparent by a fang like pattern that was on the top middle of it. The torso itself was airy and big, much like plate armor on knights of old; obviously designed to absorb impact damage, yet it was somehow aerodynamic in design. The waist was where it got fancy; three external plates were hanging from it, two black ones on the side and a smaller gold one to the back. They had no purpose other than for show. Its legs were gold at the top, blue on the middle and the feet were black with exception of gold plating emblems that proudly stood out on the top of each foot. Each leg seemed bulky, yet muscular and tough. All of this was armor, so it could be removed; the final design wouldn't have this as it would be a war machine without parallel. After studying the design for a while, the general's attention went to the line of coding. This coding was actually part of the CAST's runtime processes; everything that made it think and act. Taking a small device out of a pouch that was attached to belted stash; the general placed it inside a port on the side of the computer. A holographic keyboard appeared as the man put his hands near the computer screen. He stood there with his hands floating freely next to it for some time, as if he had no idea what he was doing. Then, finally, they began their slow but steady work. Soon, lines of coding were being removed from its base programming. After a substantial amount of data was deleted, towards the end of the program the general typed in the following sequence:

[Insert package: Evolutionary Emotion Device Prototype *]

[Runtime sequence activated: Copyright Dr. Montague AW 3102]

A wall of text started flooding forth in the coding.

"…Shit…" the general mumbled as the wall of text stopped its cascade and as a new slew of error messages popped up; various runtimes were contradictory with each other now. Gradually, he managed to solve each conflict the system had. After each and every conflict checked out, he saved the progress, or maybe the lack there of, and uploaded it to the network. He turned off the program and contacted the Council. Another decorated individual, an obvious CAST, appeared soon on a hologram out of the two prongs.

"Report" the hologram spoke.

"We are going to begin testing now of the prototype model" the general replied.

"Confirmed. Do not fail us; this project has gone on long enough. If it fails here, we have a serious consideration to pull the funding for it and work on other affairs." The general nodded and the hologram turned off. Standing up, he removed a black pistol from its holster and shot the desk directly at the computer terminal. He holstered his pistol and angrily picked up the mantle before carefully refashioning himself with it. After stepping outside his quarters, he glanced to the right before quickly double taking to the left and repeating the process once more. No one conspicuously looking his way, he reassumed his boastful stride to the catwalk above the display area for testing. Retaining his post, he stands on the catwalk while holding the railing as the sergeant from before stands beside him.

"We are waiting for your signal. Do we have the go ahead?" the sergeant asked.

"Proceed" the general spoke surly, waving his arm forward, motioning the go ahead. The scientists acknowledge the motion and begin to furiously work the terminals throughout the room. Within the next few minutes and after various machines whirred about during their subroutines, a large glass cylinder rose from the floor on a display area that was sealed with glass. The glass cylinder opened and the same CAST from the images on the program earlier was present inside. Tentatively, it took a few steps on its own into the display area, as it if had no driving force behind it; soulless, like a machine.

"…C'mon…C'mon…" the general muttered under his own breath.

"Alright now, Prototype 'Q', step forward" a scientist said. Dutifully, the silent CAST acknowledged the command.

"Good. Now, retrieve the weapon from the case." A saber appeared encased inside a box that rose on a panel from the ground to the CAST's left. Again, dutifully, it obeyed its orders.

"Now, kill your target!" A mechanical dummy arose from the ground and posed itself threateningly wielding a false edged sword. The CAST stood there, its weapon at the ready. Then something changed. It simply scrutinized the weapon, and its target. Confused, it lowered its stance.

"Prototype Q, I said kill your target!"

"...Why?" the CAST spoke, turning its head to the commanding scientist. Nervous as all hell, the scientist quickly glanced at the general who has since intently leaned over the railing, hanging on every second of the display. Before the scientist could formulate a response, an alarm sounded.

"Emergency in Sector 3! Intruders have been spotted entering the facility and have taken out the task force assigned there. All squadrons are to immediately intercept!" the intercom system shouted. Before anyone could move, an explosion rocked the wall at the far end of the room; it quickly responded by crumbling into a pile of metal and thick dust. Gunfire and shouting roared and echoed through the smoke and debris. The prototype CAST became unmistakably distraught as it ran about the room until its stress reached a boiling point. It let out an ear-splitting scream; a dramatic bolt of blue light penetrated the smog that surrounded them soon after. The spark intensified up to the point where it almost blanketed the entire room; a massive wave of visible electromagnetism rocked the whole facility. Everyone was knocked unconscious, and the complex went dark; the only thing illumination present was the eerie blue emanating from the CAST. In its fury and fright, it broke free of its display area and it started to run amok throughout the facility. The general picked himself within the next few seconds, discarded his mantle and then chased after it. Some humans were still causing anarchy in the facility as he ran; he paid no mind to it, his only focus was on the CAST. Further up ahead was a vicious fire fight between more humans and CASTs; again he caught a glimpse of the run-away in the distance. Somehow, the CAST succeeded in navigating his way outside of the facility. The general was still quite committed to catching up to it. Once outside, the complex was on completely set ablaze, as was the surrounding overgrowth that enshrouded it. Along the side of a nearby wall was the prototype CAST; he was slumped over, using the wall as a prop as he held head with one hand and the saber in the other. Slowly, the general approached it, unmenacingly, but with tremendous cunning. It proved to no avail, as the CAST noticed him and fled into the forest.

A day passed. The smoke had settled and the facility was finished. The general had returned to it once more. With both side entrances being utterly annihilated; all that remained was the main entrance. Each blast door was set ajar as they were slanted in their axis with the rest of the sliding mechanism that allowed them to easily open and close without requirement of physical labor. Suddenly, every muscle on the general's arms, shoulders, and torso, tightened and expanded immensely with amazing force. He grabbed both doors and bent them into each other where they remained that way for the rest of time. Welding the bent doors shut with a fire Technique, his work at the facility was now done. Content, he turned and walked into the forest.

"Hello. Yes, I am reporting on the test for the Prototype. The Fulminating Shadow Project was a failure. Yes, I understand. So we are completely scrapping the project now? Understood. No, the facility was destroyed, no evidence exists. The prototype was destroyed on the raid. Yes, even the people involved have been killed in the project. The only ones who know about it are you at the council and myself. Understood. Affirmative, over and out" he said into his communication device that was part of his helmet. The general looked down onto the forest floor as the prototype CAST laid there, unconscious, but alive; the saber still tightly gripped in its hand.

"Well now, 'Q'. Let us see where you fit in our struggle for existence."