Part 2: The Golden Generation
Changes in the Air:
The X5 group had as much, if not a little more, feline DNA then X2. This time, however, the researchers and genetic engineers had done it right. Designed to be officers, the X5 had more combat skills then X1 and X3 combined, along with superior intelligence to X4, advanced motor control, perfect photographic memory, lightning fast reflexes, the list went on and on. After hearing the predictions for this generation, I wondered how they could create anything beyond.
Personally, I was most impressed with the 'super human' abilities, which, to my knowledge, the other X generations did not have - or if they did, the abilities were minimal and un-tested. X5 could see very in the dark, had telescopic vision, highly sensitive hearing... they could mentally calculate the velocity of a speeding bullet in time to get out of its way! Wish I could do that! And of course, they shared the X generational abilities of being able to run blindingly fast and jump really high -- to name a few.
As officers, X5s were designed to be independent. Lydecker knew this could potentially be a slight risk, but he seemed confident in his ability to handle and refine the X5 independent gene while still remaining their superior. I'm sure he was warned about soldiers being too independent, thinking too much for themselves. But for whatever reason, Lydecker had faith in this new generation.
The first X5 was born in 1998, a male. He was to be known as X5-599. He was closely followed by X5-656, a female. In less then two years they had all been born, the youngest in 2001, X5-452, female. In totally, some 45 new soldiers were brought to life behind Manticore walls. They were split into three groups of 15. One group to a block. Each block trained together, ate together, learned together. Only once they were a little older - about 5 - did they start participating in whole group activities with all three blocks.
Now, this is purely my personal conclusion, but I'm not convinced all X5 DNA was created equal. I'm betting they kept tweaking and fiddling with the DNA a bit, changing little things and such. I only say this because, from what I've seen, there is a slight range in ability. How to explain ... okay, if one were to plot a graph of X5 ability verses time, it would start out real high, dip just a tiny bit in the middle, and rise back up, the last dot just a tad above the first. I only say this because, well, there's something special about that young one.
I was going to have more contact with this group then I had had with any of the others. See, in the months before the first X5s were born, Lydecker had Manticore remodeled slightly to satisfy the X5 independence. Rooms and hallways were opened up to allow the X5s to have "free rein" of Manticore. They could come and go from Blocks 12, 13, and 14 (their generation's area) as they pleased. That is of course, if they weren't training, studying, or otherwise occupied. In other words, I might see one wandering about a little bit, but at first these encounters were few and far between.
In reality, X5 was allowed to wander through maybe a quarter of the building. They could, as one would expect, get to the training courses and sparring areas. But they could also get to parts of the Control Center and Sector 9, along with places like the mess hall and infirmary. Most of Manticore was long hallways with big windows - most of which they were allowed to wander through, but most of the doors that the hallways lead to were locked. X5 was not allowed anywhere near the other X generations, nor were they allowed into the main parts of sector 9, where the experiments were done (unless they were the subjects of course). They were also allowed into the basement, but seldom did anyone go down there, unless specifically ordered to.
For all their independent wandering, they would still have to be watched. And watch closely. Independence was a delicate thing, you had to give some, but not too much to tip the balance. I was put in charge of monitoring X5 whereabouts when they got to wandering. To achieve this, new surveillance equipment was installed; new cameras with nice microphones now, and new surveillance screens. I had access to all this from the comfort of my own little office. I kept track of them and recorded their whereabouts when I saw one wandering. Sometimes I would wonder what it would be like to be one of those kids, did they know that every move they made was potentially being watched? Did they have any understanding of what was going on and why? Questions. Manticore was still the same old building -- always full of mystery no matter how much you found out.
Changes in the Air:
The X5 group had as much, if not a little more, feline DNA then X2. This time, however, the researchers and genetic engineers had done it right. Designed to be officers, the X5 had more combat skills then X1 and X3 combined, along with superior intelligence to X4, advanced motor control, perfect photographic memory, lightning fast reflexes, the list went on and on. After hearing the predictions for this generation, I wondered how they could create anything beyond.
Personally, I was most impressed with the 'super human' abilities, which, to my knowledge, the other X generations did not have - or if they did, the abilities were minimal and un-tested. X5 could see very in the dark, had telescopic vision, highly sensitive hearing... they could mentally calculate the velocity of a speeding bullet in time to get out of its way! Wish I could do that! And of course, they shared the X generational abilities of being able to run blindingly fast and jump really high -- to name a few.
As officers, X5s were designed to be independent. Lydecker knew this could potentially be a slight risk, but he seemed confident in his ability to handle and refine the X5 independent gene while still remaining their superior. I'm sure he was warned about soldiers being too independent, thinking too much for themselves. But for whatever reason, Lydecker had faith in this new generation.
The first X5 was born in 1998, a male. He was to be known as X5-599. He was closely followed by X5-656, a female. In less then two years they had all been born, the youngest in 2001, X5-452, female. In totally, some 45 new soldiers were brought to life behind Manticore walls. They were split into three groups of 15. One group to a block. Each block trained together, ate together, learned together. Only once they were a little older - about 5 - did they start participating in whole group activities with all three blocks.
Now, this is purely my personal conclusion, but I'm not convinced all X5 DNA was created equal. I'm betting they kept tweaking and fiddling with the DNA a bit, changing little things and such. I only say this because, from what I've seen, there is a slight range in ability. How to explain ... okay, if one were to plot a graph of X5 ability verses time, it would start out real high, dip just a tiny bit in the middle, and rise back up, the last dot just a tad above the first. I only say this because, well, there's something special about that young one.
I was going to have more contact with this group then I had had with any of the others. See, in the months before the first X5s were born, Lydecker had Manticore remodeled slightly to satisfy the X5 independence. Rooms and hallways were opened up to allow the X5s to have "free rein" of Manticore. They could come and go from Blocks 12, 13, and 14 (their generation's area) as they pleased. That is of course, if they weren't training, studying, or otherwise occupied. In other words, I might see one wandering about a little bit, but at first these encounters were few and far between.
In reality, X5 was allowed to wander through maybe a quarter of the building. They could, as one would expect, get to the training courses and sparring areas. But they could also get to parts of the Control Center and Sector 9, along with places like the mess hall and infirmary. Most of Manticore was long hallways with big windows - most of which they were allowed to wander through, but most of the doors that the hallways lead to were locked. X5 was not allowed anywhere near the other X generations, nor were they allowed into the main parts of sector 9, where the experiments were done (unless they were the subjects of course). They were also allowed into the basement, but seldom did anyone go down there, unless specifically ordered to.
For all their independent wandering, they would still have to be watched. And watch closely. Independence was a delicate thing, you had to give some, but not too much to tip the balance. I was put in charge of monitoring X5 whereabouts when they got to wandering. To achieve this, new surveillance equipment was installed; new cameras with nice microphones now, and new surveillance screens. I had access to all this from the comfort of my own little office. I kept track of them and recorded their whereabouts when I saw one wandering. Sometimes I would wonder what it would be like to be one of those kids, did they know that every move they made was potentially being watched? Did they have any understanding of what was going on and why? Questions. Manticore was still the same old building -- always full of mystery no matter how much you found out.