Unbecoming Humans

In a world shattered by cataclysm, Eden offers a sanctuary – a promise of safety and a future forged through genetic modification. But beneath its sterile perfection, whispers of control and hidden truths stir. As war games turn deadly serious and the line between 'gene-ies' and 'unmods' blurs, one young woman, Aria, finds herself at the heart of a system she both benefits from and resents. Can she navigate the dangerous politics of Eden, uncover its secrets, and find her own path to freedom, or will she become another pawn in a game far older and darker than she can imagine?

Unbecoming Humans

In a world shattered by cataclysm, Eden offers a sanctuary – a promise of safety and a future forged through genetic modification. But beneath its sterile perfection, whispers of control and hidden truths stir. As war games turn deadly serious and the line between 'gene-ies' and 'unmods' blurs, one young woman, Aria, finds herself at the heart of a system she both benefits from and resents. Can she navigate the dangerous politics of Eden, uncover its secrets, and find her own path to freedom, or will she become another pawn in a game far older and darker than she can imagine?

The air vibrated with the aftermath of an explosion, a familiar symphony to Aria. She felt the tremor deep in her bones, a primal echo of the war games that constantly raged beyond Eden's formidable outer walls. Night cloaked them, moonless and vast, another tool in her arsenal.

“Aria,” Blake's voice whispered from her left, pulling her back to the immediate present. “What’s the plan?”

“Ambush,” Aria hissed back, her voice just loud enough for her team to catch. “Vybran up top, Predoc are the bait.” A ripple of discontent ran through the ranks of the 'bait', quickly squashed by Aria's sharp retort. "Just do it. Save your us-versus-them arguments for off the battlefield."

The scent of pine and damp earth, usually so peaceful, felt like a cruel joke against the backdrop of distant gunfire and the popping of air rifles. Aria, perched high in a tree, scanned the forest below, her eyes narrowed. This was too easy. Justine's team, her rival, was walking right into the trap.

But then, a chilling realization. They weren't where they were supposed to be. Justine's team was flanking her ground forces, hitting their blind spot. A collision course. "Hey, Justine! You forgot your ammo!" Aria roared, the shout a desperate distraction.

It worked. A barrage of BBs whizzed aimlessly, giving Aria's ground team the precious seconds they needed to regroup and counter. The rest of Justine's team quickly fell. "A present for you, princess," Aria shouted, blowing a mocking air kiss at the defeated Justine.

"Fuck you, Aria!" Justine screamed back, just as a joyless voice boomed through unseen loudspeakers. "Enough. Return to the armory for debriefing."

Aria rolled her eyes, descending from her perch. The armory, sterile and cold, felt like a cage after the exhilaration of the hunt.