WarEnder - Short Stories & Extras | By Jack R. Rival

WarEnder Act I ~ Chapter 1

In this alternate reality, the global population never exceeded one billion humans.

Since the beginning of the 1800s, humanity focused primarily on technological advancements rather than having families. More people pursued careers as scientists and inventors; and aspects such as religion, wealth, and power were simply not regarded as priority. There was no need for extensive construction of homes and buildings, so deforestation was never an issue. In North America, laboratories and -factories outnumbered hospitals, although only the most prestigious institutions were marked on maps. This left over half of the land in the United States remaining virgin forest populated with wildlife, although the overall climate had suffered heavily due to pollution. There was also a spike in significant medical advancements, and all plagues of mankind became considerably easier to prevent or even fully treat. Universal health care became the norm, as global leaders recognized the importance of preserving brilliant minds and prioritizing the well-being of their populations.

In 1914, Japan became the first country to produce the first generation of cy-people. These robots were primarily employed for low-paying or hazardous jobs so citizens could pursue more comfortable and higher-paying positions regardless of experience. Western European countries expressed interest in utilizing Japan's cy-template to create their own versions. However, Japan encouraged them to develop their own original models. This disagreement sparked a competitive nature in technology and led to multiple global wars and civil conflicts. During these wars, mandatory military service was implemented in nearly every country, resulting in the construction of numerous military bases. Finally, in 2017, the Cybernetic Division of Protection (CDP) was established with a mission to eliminate human casualties by replacing the American military with cys. They also focused on advancing military machinery to enhance overall capabilities and effectiveness in combat.

As technology continued to advance, many generations of cy were developed, featuring increasingly sophisticated programming and artificial intelligence. Eventually cys gained recognition as members of society alongside humans, as they exhibited sentience. It became common for cys and humans to view themselves as friends, allies, or even romantic partners. There still existed a category of "factory-type" cy designed to serve both humans and other cys, as they were considered more expendable than their sentient counterparts. The CDP deployed these factory-type cys for their "cyber-soldier" units.

By 2041, seven world wars had commenced and concluded, varying in duration from a few years to several decades, accompanied by hundreds of civil wars. The Extinction War began the following year, marking the present day.

The wars alone resulted in over 500 million fatalities spanning 127 years.

Chapter 1

Six months. That's how long this world had been unprotected from the CDP, an ex-military organization gone rogue that started committing multiple genocides on the most cy-populated countries. You would think six months isn't a lot of time, right? How much damage could one organization possibly cause? In short, a lot more than you'd think. A lot. This raises more questions: Who was supposed to protect this world? Where are they? Surely there's a big army of good guys somewhere . . . Those were my questions anyway. Turns out, there was never an army to save us.

But there was one soldier.

Alcatar's LAB-C-Michigan, USA, July 13, 2042, 08:45

Hidden deep in the forests of Michigan, the laboratory lay shrouded in an eerie atmosphere; the scent of blood and decay lingered. The odor was caused by a trail of dried blood, originating from the wall on the left-hand side and leading all the way to the exit. The blood took on an almost black hue, indicating its prolonged presence. Within the lab, chaos reigned, the aftermath of a merciless ransacking by the CDP that left destruction in its wake. Flickering lights overhead intermittently bathed the room in brief moments of illumination, casting haunting shadows upon the remnants of a once-thriving facility. Yet amidst the ruin, one floor remained untouched, concealed from the soldiers that had pillaged the laboratory.