MANKIND'S ORIGIN TIMELINE.
THE GREAT TRAGEDY.
In the late years of the 35th century, roughly 1000 years into the longest running peacetime in history, the human race experiences what is known as "the Great Tragedy". An event in time caused by an unknown source that destroys nearly 85% of all human life on earth.
It began as a wave of abnormal behaviors on a mass scale, with reports of people not arriving for school or work, traffic coming to a complete stop for no reason at all, and nobody was eating. The condition spread quickly as the majority of the population on earth began to move at a slow, sluggish pace. Relaxed and calm, but lifeless. As if everyone had been fed strong sedatives. Happening at first, only in major cities of cultural influence. New York, Honk Kong, Dubai, Marseille, Cape Town, Sydney, Rio, etc. were all affected by this condition, almost simultaneously. Practically overnight, this condition spread like wildfire and within a weeks time it had become a global phenomenon that stopped the world in its tracks. People stopped getting out of bed, going to work, eating, drinking, or even talking. As if the life and spirit was sucked right out of their bodies!
Eventually this led to a mass deterioration of sanity as the days turned to weeks and everyone's minds began to warp as people began to lose grasp of their realities. Starvation, dehydration, exposure, and hallucinations, causing them to completely lose their minds. Bodies began twisting and twitching with small seizures, screaming loudly until the voice was gone, before finally freezing to a statuesque state. Yellow, milk textured fluids secreting from the eyes and ears.
This, strange liquid, seeping onto the surface, is believed to be the reason that the Earth took an even darker turn. Life, was then sucked from mother nature herself. Green turned brown as the forests, jungles, and farms throughout the planet simply stopped growing. Wiping the insect and animal populations out completely. Eventually, causing the unaffected remainder to fight for survival as they try to, not only understand, but accept the horrifying reality that this may be the end. To make things worse for the survivors. As if being taunted by the universe, water, remained. In abundance.
The water was infected. Whatever had happened to the others had not affected the survivors. However, it was discovered quickly, that direct consumption of un-purified food or water from the surface would have a survivor dead within a week.
THE SURVIVORS.
The humans that managed to survive did so in a number of ways. The majority of the population immediately began to dig underground and settle in the land beneath the surface, deep into the Earths lower mantle. Some boarded and built spacecraft and evacuated to the International space station, the moon, and even Mars, while the not so lucky ones simply drifted in space. A small population was abandoned entirely, left remaining on the surface.
Years shift into decades, centuries, on into a millennia. Man survives, now scattered throughout the solar system. The never-ending illusion of time constantly working against us. Nature started to shift them towards different evolutionary paths.
LOWER MANTLE, TRANQUILITY.
The humans who remained on Earth had unfortunately discovered that, due to the Tragedy, a large number of the males were rendered sterile and unable to reproduce. The ones that could, only reproduced more sterile males. They had to begin dedicating their resources to a solution which began the foundations of a great underground city known as Tranquility. Having to rely on artificial insemination and the creation of sperm through DNA splicing to maintain their survival. They eventually evolved into a tall, slender, Grey, hairless species, that no longer had sexual organs. They have enhanced intelligence and minor telepathic abilities. They are known as the Tall Grey, for their abnormal height and grey skin.
Tranquility thrives and is now the central location for the human scientific community in the Milky Way. Becoming home to many prestigious universities. Molding the greatest scientific minds in the galaxy. The majority of "The Great Tragedy" research takes place here. This is where the discovery of modern time travel took place. The very first time travelers were Physicists at the Grand Tranquil University in the year 19,876 by way of a small star-gate they could create through a combination of sound frequencies. This scientific breakthrough sparked galaxy wide inspiration and great minds began to travel years, even light-years, to return home to attend the university.
MOON, PORT OF CUSTOMS, ORION
The humans that went to space station and the moon, were the last of the elite group of high-class members of society that controlled the world before the Tragedy. These people already had escape plans in place. As well as, a full stock of frozen eggs and sperm and everything they would need to settle and rebuild. Reproduction and survival for them would be no problem. The space station became a centralized entry and exit point into tranquility. Anybody coming too, or leaving from, Earth. Had to pass through the high and heavy security here. While on the moon, their scientists, were able to develop technology that would send them on a trajectory towards the Orion system, just past Orion's belt. A small solar system consisting of 3 small planets orbiting a small star. Where ancient beliefs state humans may have originated. They had no evidence and no guidance, they simply shot for the stars on a leap of faith that something was out there better than the moon. They do, in fact, make it to Orion.
They discovered the remains of an ancient civilization. Large cities lie in ruins all across the planet. They settled in the ruins and began to rebuild a thriving civilization. Orion was a beautiful rock in space roughly the size of Neptune, its gravity is two and half times that of earth. It had flourishing forests, jungles, water, and an abundance of wildlife. They had 26 hours of sunlight followed by 26 hours of night on Orion. This was due to a slower rotation and the planets size. These humans became the leading pioneers in luxury, finances, and physical pleasures.
A haven for the rich and famous. Orion is home to the galaxy's lone Financial Institution known as the Nordic Bank. The center of all T-Creds (Transactional Credits) throughout the Milky Way. Everyone with an income in the galaxy has an account with the Nordic Bank. It is Publicly owned by the inhabitants of Orion who are awarded a small percentage of the stocks at birth. The implementation of this was in place to avoid the risk of wrongful abuse of power and control by banking cartels like the unfortunate souls of the 20th and 21st centuries before the fall of the the federal reserve during the conflicts of WWIII.
This system makes the Orion the leading exporters of high-class capitalists who believe themselves to be equal to gods. These men had not evolved much in appearance or way of life since the Tragedy. The Nordic still had fully functioning sexual organs and almost as if to taunt the other races. They were extremely open and free with their bodies. Apart from, the growth of the head and the brain, the enlarged blue almond shaped eyes, and the larger muscles due to the increased gravity, the Nordic still very much resembled the humans of the past. They all had blonde hair and a pale complexion, due to the lack of vitamin D from the planets resources.
THE MARTIANS
The humans that went to mars discovered a pre-existing civilization of highly intelligent insectoid beings called Manti that were hidden beneath the surface. They were a species of great strength and intelligence, yet they lived in tunnels and the technology they used was minimal and primitive in respect to the humans. The discovery initially sparked some violent conflict between the two species. Primarily out of fear, and accidental invasion. Though as the years went by, peace was established and a technologically cooperative civilization began to flourish. Entirely underground as to keep out of the rough sandstorms that riddled the surface.
Dealing with the same sterility problems as the others on earth. They were introduced to the way of spiritual enlightenment by way of the Manti. Who introduced them to natural ways to heal the body and mind, through intense meditation and focus of their collective consciousness. This healed their bodies and in fact, created a more fertile race than before. The population started to boom. The shared knowledge and worlds of the two species greatly enhanced the mental and intellectual attributes of these men. Eventually they developed powerful telepathic abilities and completely eliminated the use of communication by ways of auditory sound. They began to understand the secrets of the universe by way of the Manti who had managed to find the secret to near immortality through ancient traditions. No-one has ever seen a Manti die outside of combat.
The men and the Manti live and thrive together peacefully. The martian society is entirely based of wonder. They eventually created technology that allowed Martians to grow their children the way they that liked, to be who, or what they liked. Outside of the body and without the need for intercourse. Strangely, as technology advanced, society took a darker turn and it became culturally accepted to, instead of grow new children, create new bodies to which they would transfer their consciousness too prior to death. This ensured the preservation of knowledge and allows for continuous advances among their society. The mind is the number one concern or priority here and time is not to be wasted on such primitive tasks as raising children. They prefer to always be developing new technologies and exploring innovative ideas. This is all they do. Any new technology or new weapon found out in the Milky Way, is more than likely to have originated on Mars.
This cultural way of life and the underground world throughout the millennia had led these humans to evolve into a smaller grey species with very large heads and small limbs. They too, no longer had sexual organs, or a digestive system, because they went so far as to create a liquid they could drink once a day. Rendering the need for a mouth to be nearly unnecessary as well, their mouths shrink down to a slit that barely opens. This drink has all the required nutrients and vitamins they would need to not only survive, but remain in a healthy condition 100% of the time. Designed for immediate synthesis. This was created initially by a few scientist at first so that they continue developing their minds without the distraction of needing to eat food, or use the restroom. Not long after its creation, tests had displayed extraordinarily positive results, and it was released to the public. Within weeks, the need for food and water became a distant memory.
THE COLLECTIVE
All Governments and members of the scientific and military communities in the above mentioned civilizations however, continue to remain connected and cooperative under the guidance of "The Collective". A centralized Government that oversees all military, scientific, and humanitarian operations. They are the first ever completely unbiased government and fully functioning democracy that is at the disposal of every being in the galaxy. For the sake of the human races survival and continued longevity. The Collective takes no part whatsoever in anything involving finances. Influence and control is not the intention here. Preservation of the knowledge, the species, and the peace are the primary concern.
THE DRIFTERS, UNKNOWN
Those drifting in space suffered a wide array of outcomes. Some people lost their minds and killed each other, others establish settlements on small moons or asteroids and became societies riddled with war, while others, crash landed on rogue planets and no contact was ever established. Therefore, no real information is known about them. Reports have come into The Collective from time to time about ships being raided by unknown human and Non-human species on the outermost regions of the galaxy. As well as, along some of the more common trade routes. However, no other civilization from the humans has been recorded to date.
THE ABANDONED
The humans that remained on earth's surface were the most hated and shunned race in modern time. It was discovered shortly after evacuation ops began that a large number of humans were not humans at all. They were, in fact, part of a species of being that man had once thought was only a myth. Reptilian beings with scaly greenish brown skin and yellow eyes who could shift into the form of other humanoids as a survival tactic. They had been the original natives to earth. Their blood lines dating back past the dinosaurs, not much is known about their background. These beings remained in hiding throughout Man's entire run on earth and now that they were gone. The reptilian had no need to hide.
Now, they have established cities all across earths surface. They reproduce at an alarming rate . However, they are a highly unpredictable, angry, and violent people. So the population, and their cities, rise and fall fast due to always being engaged in some kind of war or conflict. They love competition and the thrill of battle. Its said in some of the more run down cities they often engage in unprovoked acts of murder and cannibalism. They are extremely sensitive to criticisms and have a tendency to react with violence. This lifestyle brings the average life expectancy to a saddening 35 years. Their cities are gloomy and resemble that of a refugee camp. The capital city for Reptilian civilization is called New Oor. Reptilian historians claim that the Earths original name before the dinosaurs were wiped out, was Oor. This city is home to the worst of the worst.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
There were no prisons in modern civilizations. The Nordic were quite fond of forcing the accused to engage in combat in the arena, small Greys were known to lobotomize and force them to live out their days in a mental retardation. Tall greys from Tranquility however, send all of their criminals and exiles to New Oor, where nobody really knows what happens to them.
The reptilians receive no aid from The Collective. They wouldn't even allow them a representative seat on the council. Every race currently blames them for the destruction of the human race. This caused the reptilians to remain a very low-class society with crime and violence everywhere. Some trade agreements have been made between Tranquility and New Oor for food and medical supplies. However, most contact with reptilians end in violence or death of one party or the other. Most conflict between Reptilians takes place near the Port of Inspiration, the gateway to the underground city of Tranquility. Although in recent years things have calmed down. There is still much animosity toward them.
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THE AMBASSADORS
Shortly after the breakthrough in time travel in early 19,880 after the technology was perfected and the effects of time travel on the human body were sufficiently understood. In secret, the first ever group of Ambassadors were selected.
The first Ambassadors had been a team consisting of 10 men and women, highly intelligent, well renowned, well-respected, scientific and political figures in the solar system. Some volunteered. Others were selected from a list of potential candidates that was galaxy wide. All are doctorate holders in their respected fields with a specific skill or study to contribute to the cause. Which was, to return to the cities of the past. Learn and discover the cause of the great tragedy, and either A. prevent it, Or B. Learn from it, so as to reverse the effects of Earth so humankind can return home.
These assignments were supposed to be simple. Scientific observations at most. This was the first time in history man was going to attempt an extended stay in the past. So the team felt that the term "Mission" was inappropriate for the job they would be performing. Thus the task became known as an "Alteration." Because, if successful, they would be altering history as they knew it. In the name of science, and the human race, the execution of the first Alteration begins in Mar of the year 19,881.
During the very first Alteration the team of Ambassadors had traveled back to New York City in the year 3485, where they learned much more about time travel and the universe than they could have ever imagined. This was the week that the first reports of unusual behavior began. Not at all-knowing what to expect the team was not able to decide exactly where to start the search, therefore New York was actually selected out of a hat in a conference room.
FIRST SIGHTING OF HENRY BLACK
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They exited the gate in Central Park at sunrise, they all shake off the effects of the jump for 30 or so secs and check their gear before beginning to wander into the empty streets of the city. The people here have already started to remain in their homes so the city had roughly 10% of the amount of normal NYC life it would have. The ones who were outside immediately take notice of the strange beings wide eyeing them as the team strolled down 8th ave on the southwest end of the park. Their telepathic abilities allowed for a flood of thoughts to rush in from the locals who caught sight of them. They were scared, questioning their eyes, some were praying, and the thoughts seemed to stutter in others. The team had not considered the drastic changes in their appearance the last 16,000 years at all. Time travel is still widely misunderstood at this point. Also, It had been generations since they had seen a primitive human and records of this time had been twisted and warped while man focused on survival over the accuracy of history.
Panic started as the people became more uneasy by the teams presence. Surprised by this, the team began to move at a more rapid pace so as to gather as much information as possible before their presence caused anymore stir. The team stopped in their tracks along the road near the entrance of the 50th street subway station after spotting a man in a black tailored suit and sunglasses standing in the roadway. He was the only individual not moved by their presence. The entire time they moved the streets until now had caused a stir among the locals. This man was not afraid. It appeared as though he expected them.
The team watched and waited, the man removed his sunglasses and begins to crack a smile. He pulls a handkerchief from his right pocket and begins wiping his lens clean. Long, deliberate, and agonizing display of confidence as he took his time. Which, to the Ambassadors, seems to slow down as the they watched in total shock. They had not expected the Alteration to provide such strange occurrences. So, doing what scientists do best, the team observes. Unsure of his purpose, They watched curiously as he starts to raise the glasses back towards his eyes, their focus broken by a strange pop as the air around them turns red and moist as the left side of an Ambassadors head explodes, covering the team in blood and brain matter. An ambush!
The team panics and starts to scramble for cover as the body drops and rounds begin to make contact all around them. There are no sounds. Taking cover, the Ambassadors frantically scan the surrounding buildings and street to find the shooter. None in sight. One, glanced over the jersey barrier they chose for cover in the direction of the suited man to see an empty street. The man was gone. Shocked and confused he is unable to lower his head in time for the round to miss as his head pops like a watermelon, and the red misty cloud falls over the team.
Packed with adrenaline, and consumed by fear, the remaining eight ambassadors begin to run towards the 50th street subway entrance. They were roughly 20 meters away when suddenly, near the entrance, the air between the team and the stairs begins to flicker and glitch as the active camouflage of a tall figure fades into view and reveals a being dressed in all black clothing wearing highly advanced tactical gear, his stance firm and engaging, he is pointing his rifle directly at the team. Not a sound, Not a flash. Rounds fly towards and passed the team and some making contact. As three more fall, the last five continue turning down the empty subway and taking cover near an information booth. They pull out the jump equipment and start to play the frequencies to open the gate back home.
The air in front of them cracks and fizzes as light pierces through and the gate begins to slowly open. Terrified and in shock, they wait as time crawls to a stand still. Beyond the flickering of the gate, as if staring through the warped blur of heat over a camp fire, they watch the forms of three beings descend the stairway. The gate is big enough to crawl through by the time they reach the ground level and one team member, who had taken a round in the bicep, dives right into the beach ball sized gate without hesitation and returns home. Another bleeds out, from wounds taken during the initial folly while waiting, and the remaining three watch, unable to move as the beings approach.
One in front and two behind. They move quickly. The two behind were 7 feet in height wearing black tactical gear with their weapons at the low-ready. The one in front was a strong-looking man with long hair, wearing a dark blue long-coat with a golden trim. He wore exquisite looking trousers and a blouse that resembled that of a musketeer. The entire get-up made him appear as if he was a pirate sailing the open waters. He walked with less discipline than the two behind. Almost drunkenly.
The three Ambassadors could have jumped home. They would have survived. However, they were scientists. They weren't bred for this kind of scenario. Fear, captured and held them hostage as the three beings reached the gate. The pirate man smiles and smashes the equipment, the team watches the member that escaped disappears with a crackle. At once, both of the tall beings raise their rifles and each take direct aim at an Ambassador. It goes silent.
"Now now" says the pirate man, he crouches down to stare directly into the ambassador's eyes. He can see the reflection of his large blue eyes in the Terrified, tear filled Scientist's. The Ambassador is unable to move or speak. He places his right hand on the ambassador's head, wipes away some blood from his cheek with his thumb. His left, slowly raising an antique M1911 style handgun, much too old to be from this time. He places the barrel on the mans forehead. "You should not be here brother" He pulls the trigger. The two behind follow his lead.
THE MINDERS.
The failure of the first Alteration rocked The Collective as new questions about our reality began to arise. The lone surviving Ambassador reported everything that took place that day and was examined rigorously. Somebody, somewhere, doesn't want us returning to the past, and it was clear now that the Alterations and Ambassadors program was not going to be the, simple, scientific, and observational operations they imagined after all.
The man was traumatized beyond use. The bicep that was hit during the ambush had not only destroyed two thirds of the upper arm, but it had total loss of all motor functions. The round used was made from an unknown material. It left no trace of shrapnel or cauterization. As if thin air just exploded from within the muscle fibers. This told the Collective that whoever was shooting, was also using possible technology from the future. Causing the need for immediate research into newer strategies and technologies themselves.
Therefore, when the Ambassador II team was selected five years after the first Alteration. It had been decided that among the selection process they would begin to observe and select highly trained military personnel, with cosmic top secret clearances, to act as security for the Ambassadors during alterations. They would become the very first, Minders.
Once the first minders were selected, briefed, and trained, the second Alteration went underway. This time a smaller team consisting of two Ambassadors and two Minders, armed with standard energy pistols only, was sent back the New York. Only the goal was now to remain hidden while they moved and strictly observed the events of the first Alteration. They needed to learn what happened and report to the Collective.
The Team arrived in the city roughly five minutes before team one. Able to blend in better now with the use of holographic generators designed to lighten their physical features, they took positions throughout 8th avenue and they observe the movements of the team. Noting all surrounding movements as the locals scrambled away. They observed as the team spotted the suited man and begin to take fire. Ignoring the team, the Minders prepared to engage as the situation escalates. They watched as the team scrambled to find cover. Noting the movements of the suited man, they witness a star gate flutter into sight behind him, it was faster than their own tech would allow, and the man steps in, the gate closing instantly into nonexistence as two nearly invisible shapes float passed at high speed. Directly towards the team.
The tall shapes flick and flutter into sight revealing thier highly advanced tactical gear and weapons of an unknown origin. Fluid and deliberate, they moved with an almost robotic precision as they funneled the team into the 50th St. subway. Once the ambassadors from team one had descended, the Minders of team two watched the beings as they stood at the entrance. The air flickers briefly as the Pirate man appears as if out of thin air. "These first one's are much more skiddish then I had expected are they not?" The pirate man said. Waving the armed figures to follow him downstairs.
The team watched as a minute passed and a loud shot was heard. The three ascend the stairs of the subway entrance, the pirate man cleaning a handgun with a fine white handkerchief. As he slips it back into a holster on his hip, a star-gate opens and a small Grey steps through wearing an all black, tightly fitted jumpsuit. The star-gate closes behind him and two more appear near the bodies of the fallen ambassadors. More greys come through and retrieve the bodies and the gates close as fast as they opened. Leaving the Pirate man, the jumpsuit wearing grey, and the two tall soldiers behind. Having a discussion near the stairway.
"Why don't they have minders?" The pirate man asked the grey. No sounds come from the grey. The Pirate man continues to speak aloud as if speaking to himself, "I understand that.... well.... I suppose your right....They couldn't know what they were starting.... haha, yes.... alright alright, Just, promise to kill me if I'm ever a weak ambassador will you?" he gestures to one of the soldiers who pulls a device out of his pocket and a stargate opens. The soldiers step through followed by the pirate man, the grey, turned and looked directly at the team, then stepped into the gate.
Team two had seen enough. They play the frequencies to open the gate with their jump gear. The gate opens up and the team returns home to report to the Collective, It was an Ambassador who killed the first team and it was clear they had more advanced tech. Thus, begins the millennia long battle across time and space to discover the truth about their demise, and why the very Ambassadors who were selected to save them, are fighting to keep them from learning the truth. Therefore, in secret, The Collective starts authorizing Alterations on a regular basis.
Our story begins on the graduation day of a Minder 52,000 years into mankind's future. A millennia into the search. They are not much closer to the truth than they were when they started. It's the first day of the rest of his life, and the turning point for the history of mankind. The fight for the truth is still underway. The only thing to do is to learn from the past in order to save the future. All of the answers lie within the Reflections of their decisions.
REFLECTIONS: MEMOIRS OF A MINDER.