The Phoenix Project

Prologue

Prologue

January 22nd 2017

Samantha

"The most powerful weapon on earth is the human soul on fire."

Ferdinand Foch

"We have all made sacrifices in the recent war," Declared the calm, collected, voice through the speaker above. A young male's voice, filled with confidence, reciting a speech that was well rehearsed. "Some have sacrificed their lives. It is those who did we wish to honor, and those who lost their loved ones we wish to reconcile. Those whose lives are lost for their country are heroes, and all heroes deserve to have their story continued..."

Samantha Malcolm sighed, lowering her head as she rubbed her temples. A throb pulsed just behind her eyes and she found herself extremely dizzy. She lowered herself into a chair and removed a bottle of water from her bag. In a few moments the entire plastic bottle had been drunk, and thrown away. She opened her eyes as the dizziness passed, and focused back on the words coming from the speaker.

"...I understand that most of you have already mourned those you lost, and already put them to rest. However, it is also fact that we had no business getting involved with the war at all save to prove that America is still a major power in the world. To many of us, this is not a good enough reason to warrant the death of our children, and parents, and siblings, and friends," Continued the young man's voice. "So I wish to offer you all a chance at having them back. I am Smith, and I represent the Phoenix Project."

"I know what many of you may be thinking; He's a hoax, nothing but a fraud. I assure you otherwise, good people. I am a man of science, and a man of truth above all else. Death is a relative term, one that we classify under the definition of 'The end of a life' or 'A state of death'. Death is not the end, merely a beginning. We are all familiar with the mythos of a Phoenix; A bird of mythical proportions, one who bursts into flame at the time of their death only to be reborn from the ashes. A human is similar, and dissimilar. Rather than a death by fire, we recede into darkness."

"This darkness can be overcome. It is the same as any obstacle of humanity. The only issue is that of our body; It is a vessel that ages faster than we are capable of maintaining. True immortality, such as that of the Phoenix, is unobtainable by us. But an early death can be reversed. The body can be reawoken, and the mind along with it-"

Samantha grunted, grinding her teeth together as a considerable uproar resounded through the speaker and cascaded down into her skull. 'Stop winding them up, Smith.' she thought, 'You're just enjoying the spotlight.' She rose from the chair and opened her eyes, peering through the glasses perched on her nose. The familiar, stark white, walls of the Phoenix Compound greeted her, along with the overly-grand calligraphy of the 'Phoenix Project' logo. A pleasant blue light pulsed from within the logo, and a hologram presented itself moments later.

"Overseer Samantha Malcolm, your presence is requested in the laboratory." It said in a pleasant, automated, voice. The holograms of the Phoenix Compound were all androgynous in voice. It was difficult to tell if any were supposed to be male or female, but they all had a distinct color and personality. The blue one was blunt and formal. Samantha liked the Blue one considerably more than most others.

"Request accepted." She stated, aptly, as she followed the pulsing blue sphere through the labyrinthine halls of the Phoenix Compound. Only Smith and a few of the other Overseers could manage to get through the complex without the holographic helpers. As Samantha walked swiftly through the while halls, Smith's voice finally calmed the uproar and reached her ears.

"Calm down! Calm down! I insist that what I am offering you is not necromancy, nor is it unholy animation. It is a wonder of science. Any questions you have will be answered in due time. Now, where was I...? Ah, yes. I have discovered, with help of many trusted colleagues and benefactors, the secret of human rejuvenation. Every wound healed, every disease, virus, and bacteria extinguished. Personality, awareness, intelligence, and faculties all restored. It will be as if they had never died to begin with."