In the year 2030, One thousand years ago. The earth convulsed into a monstrous tremor that ripped across the globe. The ground that was once a source of stability, became hundreds of chasms; gaping like holes that swallowed large sections of land. Our cities crumpled in a terrifying ballet of dust and debris within seconds into the core of our planet losing millions, if not billions of people in the process. This wasn't just a mere earthquake- no; it was a systematic dismantling, a horrifying display of raw, elemental power...

  Mother Nature at it's most gruesome.

  The horror unfolded over a few agonizing years from the event we call 'The Hollow'. Each tremor, a death sentence for another piece of humanity's world and a warning for what was to come. Soon after our ozone layers depleted, water was a hit or miss- radiation began warming the skies and with oxygen becoming so little... Even the children could not survive. The factories that once stood as a symbol of 'progress' now stood as desolates husks- spewing toxic fumes into an already dying atmosphere that scarred the landscape as whole and poisoning whatever survived... adding to the already fractured pieces of our planet, Earth.

  Humanity was on the verge of extinction.

  But with the foresight of humanities scientist and the combined might of NASA, prepared humanity's escape; A colossal exodus, orchestrated as the greatest migration in human history. The group now known as X, ushered one million souls- chosen for their skills and resilience aboard a colossal starship;

  'Arc X'.

  It was humanity's last desperate gamble for survival with technology that could nearly reach the speed of light- to leave behind a world ravaged by the universe and its own ingenuity. Earth, the cradle of human civilization, had become a wasteland unfit for human life and for a thousand years the refugees of what we called home, journeyed through the cold embrace of space... carrying with them the last flickering flame of humanity and the haunting memory of a home forever lost. Now we, the remnants of a once-great civilization, are scattered across the solar system;

  Earth's Moon, Mars, and here- on the icy plains of Titan, Saturn's largest moon.

  We've established our foothold here on Titan. Kairos; a massive domed city from flying cars to hovering skateboards and towering buildings made from Titanian Glass- a special sand found here on the moon and a rarity for the dangers it carries receiving it. Nonetheless- it was beautiful when crafted properly. Though translucent, its hue shifted from purple to pink and sometimes yellow in the sun, if its in the right place. It made my city shimmer and the only thing to admire on a moon as wild as this.

  In the center of Kairos sat the largest structure of what we call 'X-HQ', the successor to SpaceX and our command center for humanity. X was a beacon of hope in this alien expanse and top in its scientific discovery yet, even as we celebrate triumphs like today- the question still remains. Given all of these luxuries we have, what is our purpose now? We strive to terraform this hostile moon while clinging on to the hope of recreating some semblance of a the home destroyed but, is this truly a home?

  Or merely a means to survive in the vast cosmic wilderness?

  My head spins with these thoughts as I, Atlas Hawthorne, stand on the stage of X-HQ- facing hundreds of expectant eyes in a theatre specially made for these honoring events. Today, I along with four others are lauded for our 'adversity.' A meaningless word in the face of our daily struggles. Infrastructural failures, scientists vanishing into the abyss- Titan, the feral moon thats often unforgiving and unpredictable, making days like this seem almost tenuous.

  And yet, despite the fortune that falls on me today- I couldn't help but wonder if humans were worth the effort as I remembered conversations Ive had on the varied theories of why The Hollow happened. But between the political and religious opinions, Ive come to realize that... our home planet is now a hollowed shell no matter the reason. And is simple a reminder of how folly our place is in a universe as vast as this. It just annoys me that ever after everything... We're still repeating the same mistakes, here, on a moon- millions of kilometers away.

  It really makes me wonder if humanity can ever really change.

  A sigh escapes my lips as the General's voice drones on. His words were a distant echo against the backdrop of my troubled thoughts, standing on this stage at attention. We are a people adrift, haunted by the ghosts of our past. But perhaps, in this adversity, in this... relentless struggle for survival- we can forge a new path. Maybe even find redemption- not in rebuilding what was lost, but in creating something better. Something worthy of the sacrifices made. After all... the future of humanity rests on our shoulders and on this alien moon? We must rise to the challenge, or fade into oblivion.

  This much we do know.

  I rolled my shoulders, trying to shake my thoughts. I knew I needed to pay attention but I couldn't help but wish I was in the audience instead. A bystander watching this ceremony unfold. 'I wish I'd been born in a different era,' I thought or at the very least, into a different family. Being the daughter of the scientists who pioneered the Human Geno-Modification Program has been a curse disguised as a blessing.

  It has been unnatural, even inhumane- this science. Built upon discoveries made here on Titan; they managed to create a serum that can rewrite the human genome with a single injection over the course of 10 years. The power to reshape someone's very essence was a terrifying concept, and it sickens me to know that I, along with five others, are a result of such experimentation.

  Five survivors out of 100.

  Ninety-Five lives sacrificed on the altar of scientific ambition. Some say its admirable and it is those people that enrage me. That they, my parents, would choose their own daughter as a test subject let alone Ninety-Nine others... But they made it clear from the start: Ever since I was born, I was merely a means to an end. X's "gift" to a dying species. To save humanity- and so on as I rolled my eyes and readjusted my stance.

  I stare out at the sea of faces, all eagerly anticipating news of our next dangerous mission. But to be honestly it wasn't something I was ready to hear and only made me conclude that one cup of coffee will NEVER be enough to fully wake a person. Whoever spread that lie... clearly never felt the mixture of a general's briefing and drowned out thoughts.

  I closed my eyes, fighting back the fatigue. My mind was sluggish while struggling to keep up with the General's monotonous drone as he began the lists of names of those who came before us. The ones we would be commanding. 'It's time.' I tell myself, straightening my posture and looking down the line to see my friend and teammate offering me a reassuring nod. She mouthed message: "We got this, Atlas..."

  I grinned, it was Nova- one of the survivors of HGMP's treatments and most my trusted confidant. She has become more family to me than the scientists who created me. She's a force of nature, equally adept at wielding a spear as she is with an AR, but both kind and generous in equal measure. We've been inseparable since the beginning of the HGMP treatment. Nearly ten Earth Years ago, with nine of those years sharing trials and triumphs- now standing here as graduates of X's grueling program to face our true purpose:

  To terraform Earth.

  "Now I will introduce the team leading the Terraforming Excursion that will be escorting our scientists to Earth-" The General paused, his gaze settling on me with a snide grin. "Number 1, Our Commanding Officer, will you please step up." I nodded and saluted crisply. The crowd erupting in an applause for their star pupil- me... apparently.

  "Number 2, Our Lieutenant Commander, please step up." The General continued as Grey Beckett, the General's son, emerged from the ranks. Strong and imposing as he stood next to me. I could hear the women swoon over him in the crowd- an annoying prospect, though he was an attractive man... I had to admit. But prospect of romance was a dangerous distraction in our line of work; where our life is spent being expandable.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Number 3, Our First Lieutenant, please step up." It was Tommy Gorm- our demolitions expert. I watched him lumber forward in the corner of my eye. He was a man of few opinions with even fewer words. I couldn't tell if his silence was a blessing or a curse as the General continued announcing the remainder of our troop,

  "Number 4, Our Second Lieutenant, please step up" I couldn't help but grin, Nova E-Stranza. Her kindness and unwavering spirit had carried me through the darkest days of the HGMP treatments. She was a beacon of hope and a kind reminder that even in the face of unimaginable pain, humanity could adapt and endure... feeling her energy radiate as the crowds began to bellow our names.

  "And finally, Our Third Lieutenant, Number 5." The general ended with Sir Emmet Buckley. Ahh, sweet Emmet. Our gentle medic who possessed a vast array of skills from computer hacking to curing even the most difficult of diseases. He had become the heart of our team- to humanity. Patching us up and keeping us sane in the weeks since we'd been assembled.

  I couldn't help but smile as the general continued his speech. However... Even with these four behind me, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were lambs being led to the slaughter... nevertheless, five survivors endured and is now tasked with the impossible and you'd think with all of this in common with each other, we would know each other personally- But I will assure you that is not the case.

  Between my parents' relentless modification projects and X's military command program, I've barely had a moment to breathe- let alone bond as we saluted and snapped back into formation so the general can continue explaining our mission to the civilians of Kairos. My gaze landed on my teammates as we fell back into line. I could see the anticipation in their smiles and curiosity in their eyes- blissfully unaware of the true nature of our mission and the monstrous reality that awaited us.

  Only Grey, the hire-ups, my parents, and I had seen the footage captured from Earth's ravaged surface. Gigantic, mutated insects, resembling praying mantises on a nightmarish scale, now ruling the planet. Apex predators, born from the toxic fallout that evolved into a terrifying force over the past century. And that wasn't even accounting for the other dangers lurking in the ruins of our once-familiar world...

  A sigh escaped my lips yet again as I shifted my weight when suddenly, a wave of applause jolting me back to the present when I instinctively saluted again with the others. We were being dismissed from the stage as the crowd began to disperse. 'Thank the stars thats over...' I thought to myself as I turned around with relief and walked down the stage's stairs where the rest of the military personnel were. Everyone was collectively merging into their cliques as I stood among the ones I would be commanding, alone and in a daze.

  This way my reality now.

  "Oh my gosh, Atlas, did you hear that?" Nova's voice cut through my thoughts... But I was still feeling lethargic and spacey, when she snapped her fingers in front of my face a few times to capture my attention, "Atlassss!" She exclaimed poking my cheek before turning my body to face her.

  I blinked, offering her a weary smile. "Yes, Nova?" She grabbed my shoulders, her enthusiasm infectious enough to make me grin as I placed a hand on hers. "We get specialized weapons!" She exclaimed, "Tailored to us and this mission-" I watched as her lips curled into a devilish smile, "-made from Nova steel."

  The mention of the valuable mineral piqued my interest. I raised an eyebrow, regretting the moments I'd spent lost in thought instead of paying attention. "Yeah? Got your attention now don't I? Get this... Power energy dispersers!" Nova continued, bouncing on her toes. "It should help us keep the noise down from predators or any lingering threats AND wipe out a group of insurgents in one swipe... I can't wait to try it!"

  I nodded, my mind racing with possibilities as I watched General Beckett stride towards us with his hands behind his back and chin in the air, ready to rain on our parade, as we all straightened up and stood at attention. He was significantly taller than I was and much bulkier as he walked up, towering over me.

  "Number 1, 2 with me." He grunted before turning with the expectancy to follow and with a roll of my eye, I nod to my compatriots- Nova giving me an encouraging pat on the back before following the General and his son into whatever doom they were leading us to next.

  -

  I trailed behind them, a sense of unease settling in my stomach. The unknown awaited and with it, the terrifying truth of what Earth had become. I wasn't looking forward to knowing more, but excited to get off this rock as the General cleared his throat, "Atlas, the scientists are priority, do you understand?" The general's voice echoed down the long corridor, leadiing us into the heart of the facility.

  The bright white lights were blinding as their white glow reflected heavily off the metal hallways. "Yes sir-" I exclaimed, though the place itself wasn't entirely unfamiliar. Growing up here had its merits. It was the hidden labyrinth beneath of locked doors and winding staircases that left us often wondering what our government was hiding, as we reached an elevator that took us deeper into Titans core.

  We came to a floor marked '02' and exited the elevator. It was another long hallway and at the end, a room- guarded by a formidable metal door. Upon approach, we watched as a thin beam of golden light scanned the General's face in both directions before it slid open with a hiss of pressurized air, "Welcome, General Beckett." A disembodied woman's voice announced, the words swallowed by the rush of air entering a highly illuminated sterile room.

  I looked around unbelieved by the level of technology before my eyes and knew exactly what this room was- a testing facility. Beyond stood two teams of scientists hunched over consoles along the edge of the room with a massive cylindrical glass in the center, flanking a pair of empty beds in the middle. My parents, engrossed in their work per usual, barely acknowledged my arrival standing outside the glass chamber with their devices in hand. I was disappointed but that was quickly replaced by irritation as I noticed the General in hushed conversation with his son.

  "This is highly classified-" he whispered with a pointed glance in my direction. My eye twitched clasping my hands behind my back as I faced the glassed room with animosity. Despite being designated as Number 1, I was always left in the dark. The General's blatant favoritism towards Grey was no secret, but it still stung. How am I supposed to become a better leader with this level of adversity? I could feel my eyebrows furrow as I panned over and saw Grey's eyes flicker towards me, a sign of something unreadable in their depths before he turned back to his father.

  "Yes, sir. Of course." Grey assured him, his voice loud enough for me to hear. "I will watch our team closely and be wary of each individual." I scoffed inwardly and couldn't believe my ears. The general's distrust of me was beyond comprehension. His constant critiques of my, "incompetence," during training thinly veiled his true intent to elevate his son.

  It was a game I refused to play, choosing silence over confrontation. "Of course, sir, this part of the mission will be kept highly confidential." Grey continued, casting a wink in my direction. The General responded with a curt nod, leaving me with a bitter taste in my mouth as I watched him turn to me in a sharp voice.

  "Make sure to follow orders." He snarled.

  But I couldn't help but grin and salute stiffly, "Yes, sir!" I replied as the General moved to confer with the scientists, seeing my parents finally approach. "Atlas, this is the final stage." My mother stated, her voice cold and distant. "Melding the human body with Artificial Intelligence- I hope you're prepared, as we've advised over the course of your growth..." Her arms remained crossed, her pale eyes reflecting a chilling detachment that always left me feeling empty as that familiar ache settled in my chest.

  My father, his expression equally stoic, pushed his glasses up his nose with a single finger. He said nothing- his attention focused on the device he attached to both mine and Grey's temple. Humanity's latest marvel; a combination MRI, ECG, CT, and Heart Monitor, all in one. A testament to our technological advancements nicknamed 'M.E.C.H' as he gestured towards one of the beds.

  "Please, lay on the bed." My Father mumbled. No greeting, no warmth, just a command. I brushed past them with a heavy heart and entered the glass room with Grey close behind as we both laid down on the familiar cold surfaces. Another experiment, another day in the life of Atlas... Only this time I wasn't completely alone as I closed my eyes and took a deep breath... anchoring me to the present when I felt the familiar sting of the needle and the cold bite of antiseptic.

  Mere precursors to the agony I knew was coming.

  Choice had never been a luxury in my life; all I could do was endure, adapt, and hope to emerge stronger on the other side. This relentless cycle forging me into the battle hardened warrior I was today, but it didn't make the pain any less agonizing. "Hold still..." My mother's voice cut through the sterile silence of the lab as I watched a surgical robot descended from the ceiling. Its metallic limbs poised like a spider ready to strike. I couldn't help but take one last look at Grey- stiff beside me.

  I could tell he was terrified...

  He glanced at me briefly, and I offered a cold smile in return. 'It'll be okay...' my thoughts reflected through my eyes, seeing him nod as if he read my mind before turning back to the metal spider before him. I closed my eyes again, steeling myself for the inevitable as relaxed myself and felt another needle pierce my neck. It was then my mind began to falter, the world around me blurring at the edges hearing the glass door close behind.

  "Let us begin." My mothers monotone voice filled the speakers of the lab, hearing the whirring of a drill inch closer to me. My heart raced as the sensation of the robot drilling into my forehead was a fleeting- sharp burst of pain followed by a merciful descent...

  -into oblivion.