World Lore
Much has changed in the world in almost 130 years—most prominently in technology. The Genomics corporation responsible for much of the world's development, CURE, is at the forefront of all innovation.
CURE
the corporation behind it all.
Founded in the year 2042 and based in NYC, CURE's mission has and forever will be prolonging human life. Headed by the mysterious ARCHITECT, CURE funded the GENESIS Program—a research experiment dedicated to growing bioengineered tissue to edit the human genome, primarily to cure genetic illnesses and discover how to lengthen the human lifespan.However, everything changes when the first Alternative Human is made.As the Alt market has grown, CURE has expanded into a multifaceted corporation that supplies its research and products to the government, military operations, space exploration, and commercial production. Society is generally seen to have benefited greatly from their scientific contributions.
GENESIS
genomic engineering of neo-evolutionary species and integrated symbiosis
Under the supervision of the ARCHITECT, GENESIS produced the first ever bioengineered humanoid from recombinant human genomes—Alts. Alts were intended to serve as mere organ donors, but were discovered to be exceptionally malleable genetically; this malleability allowed GENESIS to create unique “superhuman” abilities within the new subspecies to serve and protect humanity.Research obtained from the creation of Alts has paved the way for CURE to patent the first immortality cure—an experimental method of immortality that is still in the trial phase, but has been the long-term goal of CURE since the corporation’s conception.The recent successful incorporation of a regenerative healing factor in Alts has proven that immortality may soon be tangible... for a price.
ALTERNATIVE HUMANS
Outside of CURE and the GENESIS program, smaller rival companies and laboratories have been moderately successful in creating their own versions of Alts, although none have managed to mass-produce them with the quality that CURE has. And no Alt made outside of CURE has yet to acquire regeneration, while every version of CURE Alt past the second model possesses varying levels of regeneration. Almost every Alt can be identified via unique implanted chips at the nape of the neck or left wrist when scanned by appropriate identification technology.
TECHNOLOGY
Following cyberattacks in 2039 that essentially destroyed the Internet and rendered modern technology useless, many devices became consolidated into smaller supercomputers capable of breaching and operating on higher security networks, as the regular net has become oversaturated with information and malware.For these reasons, much of the advancement of humanity centered around the biological sciences, and is why Alts are living organisms rather than robots. The insecurity of technology necessitated an "unhackable" workforce.
TERMINOLOGY
CURE Alts are known to have three distinct iterations, also known as "Marks."Alts made outside of CURE/GENESIS do not have such terminology, but may obey that of the lab they originate from.
| Mark | Years | About |
|---|---|---|
| MK I | 2062-2092 | The first model of Alternative Humans crafted by CURE, made from recombinant human DNA from eligible donors. Had advanced strength, limited neural processes, and enhanced senses. Most MK I’s had a limited lifespan due to the accelerated growth factor used when making them, and if not from other reasons, died naturally around 25 years of age. None still exist. |
| MK II | 2093-2122 | The second model of Alternative Humans crafted by CURE. Had higher neural processes that mirrored or excelled that of humans, including but not limited to reaction times, cellular homeostasis, and computational thinking. The previous error of short lifespans was fixed, but they were often euthanized past 30; they were rarely of use past prime age. No single MK II was the same. The uniqueness of each MK II made each highly sought-after for their abilities. Mass-produced MK II’s with specific abilities were often commissioned by independent entities for various personal use. While uncommon, there are still MK II’s in operation to date. |
| MK III | 2123-PRESENT | The latest Alternative Human model produced by CURE. These Alts are all characterized by their unique ability among Alternative Humans to regenerate, not seen before in any Alternative Humans circulating in the market. It was thanks to these Alts that CURE was able to patent the first experimental mortality vaccine—which should, in theory, forever cause human cells to regenerate, thus preserving immortality. This research has been conducted for over 100 years under CURE, but it was thanks to the MK III’s that the mortality cure has finally reached the testing phase. They are the most numerous CURE Alt model in use and by far the most expensive. |
PLOT
An affectionate trio of Alts—Elias, Cy, and Silvester—struggle against society and hide from the megacorporation CURE after they break free from captivity.
TIMELINE
Part 1
Liliana Almas, a brilliant researcher in 2144 working for CURE, discovers she is ill with a degenerative demyelinating disease that is targeting her spine. As part of her work and to save her life, she began desperately working to find a cure for herself. Three years into her project CURE dispatched an Alt to "assist" and report back on Liliana's findings: SV-M64, an Alt with unique neurological abilities. No doubt, he was meant to threaten Liliana into honesty with how far she was progressing with her project. But she hid most of her work and allowed the Alt to help her with her illness as it progressed.Despite Liliana's initial disgust with him, she came to rely on Silvester—a name she gave to the Alt. It became harder and harder to remember he was there to turn her in if he discovered she was hiding information from CURE. By 2150 in some cruel twist of fate, Liliana inadvertently invented the sole product CURE had been attempting to create since the corporation's conception: a serum that causes human cells to regenerate at a near instantaneous rate—far more powerful than that of the primitive regeneration gene spliced into some Alt genes. Liliana invented the first immortality serum.But she realized the painful cost of revealing her invention; such a serum would turn its user near indestructible. And the world would suffer at the hands of unkillable, inhuman monsters.Meanwhile, her disease was only getting worse. Faced with an impossible decision, she turned to Silvester and confessed everything to him; that the treatments he had been administering to her via his abilities hadn't been working, that she had invented the serum CURE was after, and that she couldn't take it without dooming humanity. Her secret had to die with her.Against his orders from CURE, Silvester swore to her he would never confess anything. Liliana died a year later. And Silvester had to justify the existence of humanity without the sole person he had come to love.
Part 2
By 2152, it was believed that CURE had extracted every dime of information from Silvester, who had fallen mute after the death of Liliana. Still, he had not revealed her secret, insisting rather that he had failed to see her complete her research.An extensive search conducted by CURE procured some of her early trials, much to Silvester's horror. And plans were immediately made to begin testing on Alts: starting with an organ farming Alt ID'd as SV-N66 who already had a powerful regeneration factor. Silvester discovered that the Alt in question had become disobedient and went by the name 'Elias'.To keep his promise to Liliana, Silvester did the only thing he thought rational: kidnap the Alt they injected with the sample of serum, wipe the evidence of it, and flee the city.