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Deep in the classified areas of G.U.N.'s most highly secured research facility, alarm bells flare. Scientists rush back and forth trying to resuscitate a creature they hadn't even known about when they'd come in this morning. They'd gotten the vitals back pretty quickly, but their success wasn't long lived.
"We're losing him," an officer says to the stoic commander at her side, as if they aren't viewing the readings together. "What do you think happened in there?"
"It doesn't matter," the commander replies, eyes filled with a thousand secrets. "The only thing you need concern yourself with is salvaging Project Shadow."
"Of course, ma'am."
Despite the reprimand, she continues to stay by the commander's side. There's nothing more she can do in a situation like this, after all. She's ordered the division under her command to resolve the issue, she's called in all the scientists and medical technicians on staff, she's followed procedure. So she waits, and she knows that if they fail to salvage anything from this it will be her head. She was the one in charge of protecting this level of the compound when the breach had occurred, after all.
She looks at the child on the table in the centre of the room, with his organs exposed to the world and a vast array of tubes and wires connecting him to a myriad of machines. Despite being in charge of security on this level, the officer was never actually cleared to see Project Shadow. That such a vital project is just a child is... jarring. It makes her wonder what other atrocities G.U.N. may be hiding in its restricted areas.
Maybe she doesn't have to wonder. Everyone in the room is operating on a simple directive; salvage enough of the child to replicate the project. Reviving the original would be ideal, but it's not necessary.
Keeping children in stasis. Salvaging them for parts, rather than for the individual being they represent. It sickens her.
If her career survives, it may be time to set her aspirations higher. It's about time someone weeds out the corruption, after all.
One way or another, G.U.N. needs to change.
The first iteration of chapter 1 of this was written in 2011, and I didn't revisit it until 2013. Then after slow updates on between 2013 and 2016 my life blew up and I took a hiatus. In 2019 I decided to re-write it from scratch, and now here we are, finally done.
I do have a sequel in mind, but I'm still working on the outline so it'll probably be another couple years before I have anything to post for it. But, the games explored the idea of a Shadow with no memories being asked to help all these people who say they know him, and I decided I'd like to explore that, too.
I also have 3 Shadamy soulmate Aus I'm planning on writing, all in varying states of readiness. I think I'll post one of those next, I could use a fluffier project.
Thank you for reading.