Based on an old concept of mine:
Alright so basically, setting the world up goes a little something like this:
If this setting piques your interest, lets chat! This premise has haunted me for some time now. Thanks!
My name has long been lost to time. For all intents and purposes I call myself Drift. I feel a need to explain this name I bestowed upon myself, but in order to do so there are many other things I must explain for your understanding. I remember Earth, but I'm afraid that place we all called home so long ago has also been lost through the passage of time. I know this because I've witnessed its change over the cycle of a dozen and more lifetimes. In that distant time I was what society called a scientist. You may wish to take a seat for some, if not all, of this information may be difficult to digest.
In the early 21st century mankind traveled to the 4th planet called Mars, otherwise known as the Red planet. It was the first time a human being had traveled farther than their own moon, and the mission was a grand success, or so we believed at the time. Few questions were answered at that time. We found no life on the Red planet, nor did we find any signs of life. There were traces of water trapped in centuries old prisons of ice…Ice, one simple fact that blew the minds of all Earthly people for where there was ice there was once water, and where there was water there was always life. It was decided then: We would send multiple crews to Mars for the largest, most legendary expedition in human history. Sadly, the expedition didn't last long when crew members began falling fatally ill and the remaining members had to return home, but not without a prize. In the midst of their search the astronauts discovered fossils buried deep beneath the ice. The fossils returned home with the remaining explorers.
In the years following the Mars Expedition's return scientists and scholars alike were focused more intently, and eventually completely, on the retrieved fossils than the illness that had taken so many lives on that mysterious planet. Discoveries were made about the remains of the ancient fossilized bones. It was soon evident that whatever this alien species was it was very similar in appearance to humans, but with obvious differences. Billions of dollars was wasted researching the remains but the technology we needed to achieve those goals at that time would not be available for years to come. With eyes only for this discovery it was too late when the people of Earth began falling ill. By the time the world's greatest minds came together out of pure desperation to save mankind, a third of the mass population was wiped out. For years they searched for a cure but to no avail. Eventually the illness just disappeared leaving a desecrated planet in its wake. Three quarters of the population by this point was gone forever from that world. It was a devastating time for all, but it was also a time of rebirth full of possibilities. We would bounce back…humans always did. Over the recovering years however, it became evident that a fraction of Earth's remaining women were no longer able to bear children and at a time such as that every woman's ability was vital to repopulate the suffering planet. A solution had to be found.
It was nearing the end of the 21st century when it seemed as if mankind was finally catching a break. Cloning had become legal in previous years to solve the diminishing numbers in humans due to the percentage that could no longer give life. This process was closely monitored as our race got back on its feet. Humanity was a singular race at this time. No longer were ethnicities considered anything for we were all one race united by the decades of turmoil, and chaos all the turmoil breathed life into. That age was passed and rebellion was rare as we worked together in peace for the first time in recorded history. Technology excelled further than ever before all in the hopes that we could rebuild the Earth we once knew, but little did we know we were creating a world that will forever change the Earth as we knew it forever. In the early 22nd century, at long last, we had the means to further study the fossils taken from Mars. It was soon discovered that whoever, whatever, they were that they were indeed very much like us. They were slightly larger however, as a species than us, most dominantly within the skull. Some of the bones were even hollow which lead many scientists to believe that this Martian race was capable of flight much like birds. The more we learned the more we hungered to see, I mean really see this species for what they really were. Not many years later we were ready to clone ancient fossils with nothing but the petrified DNA at our disposal.
We began cloning smaller samples such as ancient rodents until we got it right. For years it worked but the specimen would never live for long. It was during this time period that the first rebellions against our own kind began. Organizations stole, reverse engineered, and sold our technology to each other and began their own work. In less than a decade we had creatures recently extinct walking the Earth once again. Then a long and vicious war between these factions of humans ensued. Soon herds of Woolley Mammoths were stampeding through ranks; Dinosaurs wreaked havoc on civilization; Ancient birds the size of busses roamed the skies; Even plants just as deadly began to sprout from the ground. It was during this war that we discovered what we believed to be a new species of dinosaur capable of flight. One of the terrorist organizations responsible for cloning the DNA of so many dangerous creatures from Earth's past were the ones responsible for bringing this new discovery to life: A fire breathing serpent that ruled the heavens…a creature thought to be myth all throughout time spread like a wild fire. At long last the war would come to an end with this ultimate common enemy turning everything it saw into ash. A treaty was signed and the technology used to successfully clone petrified DNA was given to the scientists in possession of the Martian remains. Out of caution since the human race was facing the very real possibility of extinction once again in the mid-22nd century, we decided to wait until we could find a new way to replenish our numbers before reviving this ancient Martian race. Mind Transference was invented near the end of the 22nd century. Patients in a coma and vegetables were no longer a waste of resources for their bodies now served as vessels for other minds. This helped in restoring much of the human populace despite the many terrors now roaming the Earth. We learned as well, that Mind Transference didn't work on other species' or even other bodies possessed of active minds already so with the human race again at an advantage we turned our sights to the threats. We were learning how to deal with the dragons and dinosaurs. We were learning which plants to avoid and which were safe or even helpful. We were learning how to fight the dozens upon dozens of ancient creatures brought back to life after eons of extinction…but how long could we go on? We decided then that it was time.
In the early 23rd century we finally cloned the Martian fossils. We nurtured the children and watched them grow into powerful sentient beings. We educated them in our ways and we learned as we studied them. As it turned out their larger skulls did serve a purpose. This purpose showed us what evolution is capable of overtime and advancement as a species. There were three fossils brought back in total and all differed in their own ways. The one with hollow bones couldn't necessarily fly but definitely showed signs of air manipulation. Its balance was far superior to our own because of the hollow bones, and it could glide short distances steering itself in its falls. Another had gills as well as lungs and could swim faster than our very own dolphins. The last one was the most peculiar. It seemed to have an effect on light particles. Where the other two had similar skin in tone and texture, the third was dusky gray. No amount of tests could show us the limitations of its ability to manipulate light, but many tests showed that all three had much in common despite those minor differences. Their feet were more akin to primates' than humans; they all showed signs of possessing far greater strength than any human has ever achieved, their immune systems were far more powerful than our own and their senses were off the charts. Their noses could pick up scents more akin to the way canines did; their hearing was incredible; and they all had the vision of a hawk. Although each of them was obviously not human they were very civilized. We taught them our ways and they embraced every aspect of human life on this strange planet that no longer resembled Earth. When they were a mature age they began venturing into the wilds with us and the most incredible thing happened that helped the human race to further strive in the dangerous world that the Earth had become. Each of the Martians had the ability to tame many of the beasts that now ruled over the planet. They had a way of even communicating with the ancient and present creatures alike, but even this ability wasn't enough to tame the more wildest and deadliest of beasts. So a new era had enveloped the lives of mankind and these Martians were widely accepted by most and only shunned by a small percentage.
Over the next century Mind Transference had outlived its uses for the Martians had chosen significant others and their offspring had done so as well and as they crossbred with humans our race was heading toward a brighter future for many of the traits that made the aliens far more advanced than us was apparently carried down the bloodlines. Mind Transference was not only unnecessary at this point but had become unacceptable. All of the devices were destroyed as well as most cloning machines for the mentality of our race was changing, nay, it was evolving as well as our own genetic code. There was no longer any need to play God for though it played a major role in the beginning; nature is carrying us forward now…and indeed there must be others like me out there somewhere hiding in secret or so I hope, but otherwise knowledge of most of this history is also long forgotten to the whims of time. It is now half way through the 31st century, though the people of this time don't know it. Yet, here I am drifting through time like the Ghost of Christmas Past.
What does all this have to do with me? Why was any of this relevant? It is mostly because someone has to keep track of our history, but also because I've been there through it all. To better understand who I am and why I am; to better understand the world I live in, this history lesson was in fact necessary. I was an important member of the science team that was responsible for the Great War. We were the ones who finally found a way to clone petrified DNA. We were the reason other factions did what they did. I was there when we brought the Martian fossils back to life, and I've been here ever since. When cloning was legalized hundreds of years ago I cloned myself and taught myself everything I knew. When I was reaching the later years of my middle ages I cloned myself again and repeated that process and so on and so forth until Mind Transference was invented. Would it not be simpler to transfer everything I know…everything I've ever known into an infant child rather than re-educating myself over and over through the years? Thus was my thinking. It's strange…what happens to the human brain when lifetimes of knowledge possesses an infant's mind. Some might call it evolution; others would call it unnatural. I controlled both bodies until my younger self could fend for itself and then Mind Transference would become complete. I didn't have to repeat this process again for over a hundred years, and then over two hundred the second time. When Mind Transference devices were destroyed I was relieved for though my instincts drove me to survive the only way I knew how, I longed for rest at long last. I gladly turned over my device but already centuries of life possessed my mind. Over the few centuries I repeated this process I found that I too had evolved. Not only were my own senses growing stronger, but I was also becoming capable of things ordinary humans were not. The mind is a powerful tool of unlimited potential but not only does the brain control the mind but it controls the physical human body as well. I don't consider myself human anymore, though I do consider myself the keeper of history lost to humankind. Upon my Mind Transference device being destroyed I had believed that eventually I would grow old and wither away and finally know a peaceful rest, but I have not. Am I immortal? I know not what I am; I only know that I am still here in a world that no longer resembles the Earth we once knew; a world inhabited by creatures of long ago ages living together with humans and hybrids alike. It is a dangerous world, and yet I feel there is more potential for our race than ever before for I have witnessed the world reborn and thrive ever since. I call myself Drift, and I am a slave to time.
In the early 21st century mankind traveled to the 4th planet called Mars, otherwise known as the Red planet. It was the first time a human being had traveled farther than their own moon, and the mission was a grand success, or so we believed at the time. Few questions were answered at that time. We found no life on the Red planet, nor did we find any signs of life. There were traces of water trapped in centuries old prisons of ice…Ice, one simple fact that blew the minds of all Earthly people for where there was ice there was once water, and where there was water there was always life. It was decided then: We would send multiple crews to Mars for the largest, most legendary expedition in human history. Sadly, the expedition didn't last long when crew members began falling fatally ill and the remaining members had to return home, but not without a prize. In the midst of their search the astronauts discovered fossils buried deep beneath the ice. The fossils returned home with the remaining explorers.
In the years following the Mars Expedition's return scientists and scholars alike were focused more intently, and eventually completely, on the retrieved fossils than the illness that had taken so many lives on that mysterious planet. Discoveries were made about the remains of the ancient fossilized bones. It was soon evident that whatever this alien species was it was very similar in appearance to humans, but with obvious differences. Billions of dollars was wasted researching the remains but the technology we needed to achieve those goals at that time would not be available for years to come. With eyes only for this discovery it was too late when the people of Earth began falling ill. By the time the world's greatest minds came together out of pure desperation to save mankind, a third of the mass population was wiped out. For years they searched for a cure but to no avail. Eventually the illness just disappeared leaving a desecrated planet in its wake. Three quarters of the population by this point was gone forever from that world. It was a devastating time for all, but it was also a time of rebirth full of possibilities. We would bounce back…humans always did. Over the recovering years however, it became evident that a fraction of Earth's remaining women were no longer able to bear children and at a time such as that every woman's ability was vital to repopulate the suffering planet. A solution had to be found.
It was nearing the end of the 21st century when it seemed as if mankind was finally catching a break. Cloning had become legal in previous years to solve the diminishing numbers in humans due to the percentage that could no longer give life. This process was closely monitored as our race got back on its feet. Humanity was a singular race at this time. No longer were ethnicities considered anything for we were all one race united by the decades of turmoil, and chaos all the turmoil breathed life into. That age was passed and rebellion was rare as we worked together in peace for the first time in recorded history. Technology excelled further than ever before all in the hopes that we could rebuild the Earth we once knew, but little did we know we were creating a world that will forever change the Earth as we knew it forever. In the early 22nd century, at long last, we had the means to further study the fossils taken from Mars. It was soon discovered that whoever, whatever, they were that they were indeed very much like us. They were slightly larger however, as a species than us, most dominantly within the skull. Some of the bones were even hollow which lead many scientists to believe that this Martian race was capable of flight much like birds. The more we learned the more we hungered to see, I mean really see this species for what they really were. Not many years later we were ready to clone ancient fossils with nothing but the petrified DNA at our disposal.
We began cloning smaller samples such as ancient rodents until we got it right. For years it worked but the specimen would never live for long. It was during this time period that the first rebellions against our own kind began. Organizations stole, reverse engineered, and sold our technology to each other and began their own work. In less than a decade we had creatures recently extinct walking the Earth once again. Then a long and vicious war between these factions of humans ensued. Soon herds of Woolley Mammoths were stampeding through ranks; Dinosaurs wreaked havoc on civilization; Ancient birds the size of busses roamed the skies; Even plants just as deadly began to sprout from the ground. It was during this war that we discovered what we believed to be a new species of dinosaur capable of flight. One of the terrorist organizations responsible for cloning the DNA of so many dangerous creatures from Earth's past were the ones responsible for bringing this new discovery to life: A fire breathing serpent that ruled the heavens…a creature thought to be myth all throughout time spread like a wild fire. At long last the war would come to an end with this ultimate common enemy turning everything it saw into ash. A treaty was signed and the technology used to successfully clone petrified DNA was given to the scientists in possession of the Martian remains. Out of caution since the human race was facing the very real possibility of extinction once again in the mid-22nd century, we decided to wait until we could find a new way to replenish our numbers before reviving this ancient Martian race. Mind Transference was invented near the end of the 22nd century. Patients in a coma and vegetables were no longer a waste of resources for their bodies now served as vessels for other minds. This helped in restoring much of the human populace despite the many terrors now roaming the Earth. We learned as well, that Mind Transference didn't work on other species' or even other bodies possessed of active minds already so with the human race again at an advantage we turned our sights to the threats. We were learning how to deal with the dragons and dinosaurs. We were learning which plants to avoid and which were safe or even helpful. We were learning how to fight the dozens upon dozens of ancient creatures brought back to life after eons of extinction…but how long could we go on? We decided then that it was time.
In the early 23rd century we finally cloned the Martian fossils. We nurtured the children and watched them grow into powerful sentient beings. We educated them in our ways and we learned as we studied them. As it turned out their larger skulls did serve a purpose. This purpose showed us what evolution is capable of overtime and advancement as a species. There were three fossils brought back in total and all differed in their own ways. The one with hollow bones couldn't necessarily fly but definitely showed signs of air manipulation. Its balance was far superior to our own because of the hollow bones, and it could glide short distances steering itself in its falls. Another had gills as well as lungs and could swim faster than our very own dolphins. The last one was the most peculiar. It seemed to have an effect on light particles. Where the other two had similar skin in tone and texture, the third was dusky gray. No amount of tests could show us the limitations of its ability to manipulate light, but many tests showed that all three had much in common despite those minor differences. Their feet were more akin to primates' than humans; they all showed signs of possessing far greater strength than any human has ever achieved, their immune systems were far more powerful than our own and their senses were off the charts. Their noses could pick up scents more akin to the way canines did; their hearing was incredible; and they all had the vision of a hawk. Although each of them was obviously not human they were very civilized. We taught them our ways and they embraced every aspect of human life on this strange planet that no longer resembled Earth. When they were a mature age they began venturing into the wilds with us and the most incredible thing happened that helped the human race to further strive in the dangerous world that the Earth had become. Each of the Martians had the ability to tame many of the beasts that now ruled over the planet. They had a way of even communicating with the ancient and present creatures alike, but even this ability wasn't enough to tame the more wildest and deadliest of beasts. So a new era had enveloped the lives of mankind and these Martians were widely accepted by most and only shunned by a small percentage.
Over the next century Mind Transference had outlived its uses for the Martians had chosen significant others and their offspring had done so as well and as they crossbred with humans our race was heading toward a brighter future for many of the traits that made the aliens far more advanced than us was apparently carried down the bloodlines. Mind Transference was not only unnecessary at this point but had become unacceptable. All of the devices were destroyed as well as most cloning machines for the mentality of our race was changing, nay, it was evolving as well as our own genetic code. There was no longer any need to play God for though it played a major role in the beginning; nature is carrying us forward now…and indeed there must be others like me out there somewhere hiding in secret or so I hope, but otherwise knowledge of most of this history is also long forgotten to the whims of time. It is now half way through the 31st century, though the people of this time don't know it. Yet, here I am drifting through time like the Ghost of Christmas Past.
What does all this have to do with me? Why was any of this relevant? It is mostly because someone has to keep track of our history, but also because I've been there through it all. To better understand who I am and why I am; to better understand the world I live in, this history lesson was in fact necessary. I was an important member of the science team that was responsible for the Great War. We were the ones who finally found a way to clone petrified DNA. We were the reason other factions did what they did. I was there when we brought the Martian fossils back to life, and I've been here ever since. When cloning was legalized hundreds of years ago I cloned myself and taught myself everything I knew. When I was reaching the later years of my middle ages I cloned myself again and repeated that process and so on and so forth until Mind Transference was invented. Would it not be simpler to transfer everything I know…everything I've ever known into an infant child rather than re-educating myself over and over through the years? Thus was my thinking. It's strange…what happens to the human brain when lifetimes of knowledge possesses an infant's mind. Some might call it evolution; others would call it unnatural. I controlled both bodies until my younger self could fend for itself and then Mind Transference would become complete. I didn't have to repeat this process again for over a hundred years, and then over two hundred the second time. When Mind Transference devices were destroyed I was relieved for though my instincts drove me to survive the only way I knew how, I longed for rest at long last. I gladly turned over my device but already centuries of life possessed my mind. Over the few centuries I repeated this process I found that I too had evolved. Not only were my own senses growing stronger, but I was also becoming capable of things ordinary humans were not. The mind is a powerful tool of unlimited potential but not only does the brain control the mind but it controls the physical human body as well. I don't consider myself human anymore, though I do consider myself the keeper of history lost to humankind. Upon my Mind Transference device being destroyed I had believed that eventually I would grow old and wither away and finally know a peaceful rest, but I have not. Am I immortal? I know not what I am; I only know that I am still here in a world that no longer resembles the Earth we once knew; a world inhabited by creatures of long ago ages living together with humans and hybrids alike. It is a dangerous world, and yet I feel there is more potential for our race than ever before for I have witnessed the world reborn and thrive ever since. I call myself Drift, and I am a slave to time.
Alright so basically, setting the world up goes a little something like this:
- During one of mankind's first expeditions to Mars, several fossils/skeletons are found, all different bipedal species
- DNA is recovered from said fossils/skeletons
- Scientists revive the long lost Martian species through splicing, cloning, etc
- The Martians are raised on Earth under close scrutiny and apprehension. They are all sentient, intelligent, and vary in drastic ways:
- One is slim in stature, but has insane reflexes, and very agile. Somewhat reptilian like (not a lizard person), and can blend into environments.
- One is very tall and bulky. Its torso and arms are huge (think gorilla) tough reddish hide, tusks, and instead of hair has quill-like tendrils.
- One is very human-like, with obvious differences like the eyes, skin, teeth, etc, hyper aware, and extremely intelligent.
- This process fueled a cloning movement. Extinct creatures from all eras of Earth's history started getting revived. This caused high tension across the globe, and restrictions and strict regulations were implemented.
- This movement also fueled exponential growth in the technological department, some inventions catapulting mankind generations ahead, some being deemed too dangerous to continue researching.
- This movement, and exponential technological growth led to even more friction, nations and scientific organizations bickering over moral dilemmas.
- Leading to global war, terrorism, etc.
- Present day Earth is no longer technologically advanced. The Martian species bred with humans, and they are in abundance now. Humans dropped a few links on the food chain, no longer the alpha species. They're hunted, enslaved, etc.
- The most human-like Martian species is somewhat of a hive-mind. They can't dominate others minds and spread their collective consciousness, but the patriarchs of their own bloodlines serves as the controlling mind of that specific bloodline, and the more diluted the Martian blood, the less influence they have over the specimen. They tend to nest on the outskirts of societies. They are very intelligent, and though most other species kill them on sight, or attempt to, strategic allegiances are not unheard of.
- The "gorilla" like species are the primary slavers of others, especially humans. They aren't dumb, but their intelligence doesn't give them an edge over humans at all. They are beastly, savage, ruthless, rape, plunder, and are very cultured.
- The "reptilian" species is most friendly toward humans, not saying a lot though. They typically do not engage first, preferring to collect all useful intelligence by closely observing. They are known to be the most neutral, and their morals are very questionable.
- The world is inhabited by many deadly beasts from the cloning movement. It is a deadly and merciless place where the weak never lasts long.
- Remnants of the old world are scattered across the globe, and the earth has claimed them as its own. Though many humans have stumbled across many of these ancient sites, all knowledge of that time has faded over the centuries.
- There's a legend among the humans however. A singular entity, a human called The Archivist, who retains all knowledge from that long ago age. They have taught pockets of human settlements many things over the centuries, but that knowledge is always a gift, and carefully selected, for the Archivist is also neutral. Humanity brought this upon themselves, and nature has taken its course, and knowledge can be a disastrous thing. History repeats itself. Only the worthy may receive the Archivist's gift.
- No one knows who the Archivist is, where they can be found, how they know what they know, etc. Some say they are never the same person. Rumors say, The Archivist chooses a successor to carry on their legacy every other generation, but to this day, the Archivist remains cloaked in mystery.
If this setting piques your interest, lets chat! This premise has haunted me for some time now. Thanks!