Colossus By Design: Season 2 - Log 72

[March 12, 2166]
[Site F29]
[Lagos Island]
[Beyond the Japanese coast]

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The P.E.M.F.s, once the greatest threat humanity ever faced, are now almost an urban legend among the younger generation.

Though their presence has diminished over the years, their value in the field of scientific research has only grown. Any new P.E.M.F.-related discovery is of great significance to the Global Union of Divisions' R&D branches..... as well as any sly entrepreneurs who can take advantage of such finds quickly enough.

STRQ Industries is a rather curious example of the kind of enterprise willing to outstrip the authorities for business opportunities, if possible. The foremost company in the production of Synthetics, both in terms of mass production and experimental prototype testing, STRQ Industries has shown a particular interest as of late in locating and extracting the precious resources found within P.E.M.F. spawning sites.

On one such fateful day, the raw materials mining operation headed by Black Panther Industries and S-Death Materials has resulted in the discovery of one such spawning site. Just a few days after the discovery, STRQ Industries' own research division has moved in to take over the whole operation, much to the dismay of the other two companies' representatives and employees.

Emmy Kano is now the director of this undertaking; she's flanked by Vivian Grahame and one of S-Death Materials' top spokespersons, one Lance Weyland.


(Director Kano): Okay, carefully....... carefully..... that's good! Lower it right here!


As per the director's orders, a crane drone gingerly sets down a platform holding the largest P.E.M.F. spawning sac of the whole site.


(Director Kano): You see this? THIS is the future. But not in that crazy worshiping kind of way. No..... We have much more...... "practical" applications in mind.

(Vivian Grahame): I'm still not sure why the companies even let STRQ Industries come here to extract and study these things.

(Lance Weyland): Unfortunately, Vivian, the former president and founder of the executive board, now the largest shareholder, is on suspiciously good terms with Black Panther and S-Death Materials.


As the two continue to talk, Ms. Kano picks up a small vial containing some of the fluid and gel-layer from the large central pod that she requested be brought up to her specifically. After giving it a quick shake, she turns around to face her representative assistants.


(Director Kano): Now, where were we?

(Lance Weyland): Something about doing the exact same thing as a cult but without being hunted down by the government?

(Director Kano): Still the same old Lance, aren't we? As I was saying, sites like these are the future. They will be invaluable to STRQ's research into truly Human-like Androids.

(Vivian Grahame): Yes, well, I'm still quite foggy on why that's even a good idea. Have you not read up on the premise of that old 20th century movie........ something about infiltrating Human resistance or whatnot?

(Director Kano): I acknowledge your concerns, but trust me, we know how frightening this may seem to some. This is merely an experiment proposed by Mr. Hargrove himself.

(Lance Weyland): Hargrove?

(Director Kano): Indeed.


As the operation's director continues to examine samples from the large P.E.M.F. pod, a lot of commotion is being made a few dozen meters away at the worker barracks. While Vivian and Lance walk towards the ordeal to find out what's going on, Director Kano continues to browse the vials extracted from the large pod beside her.

A moderately sized group of workers have gathered in a large circle around two others: a large and rather burly Indian man, and a scrawny Latino teenager with glowing yellow eyes. The Indian worker is shoving the teenager, smiling and laughing as the boy does nothing defend himself. The BE-CPR-S guards hired by STRQ Industries to keep watch over the site show nothing more than passing interest in the whole conflict.


(Rajesh Shankar): Come on, FIGHT BACK!

(Carlos Santiago): I don't wanna hurt you.


Rajesh pushes the boy so hard that he falls flat on his bottom; he's laughing the whole time.


(Carlos Santiago): I really don't wanna have to--


Rajesh kicks the boy so hard in his jaw that he's sent sprawling on the ground. Whilst the rest of the crowd of workers stir among themselves, the large Indian man picks up Carlos by his shirt collar and pulls his arm back for a punch.


(Carlos Santiago): I warned you.


The large Middle Eastern man has a large smile on his face for the whole time. Just before his punch connects, he suddenly lurches forward; the smile disappears from his face. The crowd visibly gasps, watching in horror as the teenage boy pulls his open palm away from Rajesh's chest.

Where the boy's palm once was, a large singed hole is now present. The Indian worker lets go of Carlos and falls onto his back, dead; Carlos Santiago takes this opportunity to bolt off. The security guards, despite apparently not paying much attention before, have already pulled their guns out to fire stun rounds at the escaping teenager.

Once he's down, the guards gather around him and train their weapons on his unconscious body.


(Security Captain): We got a Post-Human terrorist here.