Escorpiius
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Prologue
The mass and majesty of this world, all
That carries weight and always weighs the same
Lay in the hands of others; they were small
And could not hope for help and no help came:
What their foes liked to do was done, their shame
Was all the worst could wish; they lost their pride
And died as men before their bodies died...
Extract of the Shield of Achilles by W.H. Auden
That carries weight and always weighs the same
Lay in the hands of others; they were small
And could not hope for help and no help came:
What their foes liked to do was done, their shame
Was all the worst could wish; they lost their pride
And died as men before their bodies died...
Extract of the Shield of Achilles by W.H. Auden
Those apocalyptic words on the shield of Achilles are not exact metaphors of what occurred on that dreadful day of March 07, 2036. For, there was no hero to save mankind on that day; neither was their a shield to protect us. Instead, humanity was struck. Struck with blatant helplessness. Struck with overwhelming fear. Struck by astonishing failure. Nearly struck by a gigantesque impact of an asteroid.
Nearly - because, mankind fought as they came close to the abyss of extinction. Historians claim that the asteroid, Apophis was ruled out by NASA, in 2013, to have any direct impact-collision with the Earth. It was supposedly to come not closer than 19,400 miles above Earth's surface on April 13, 2029 and the possibility of passing through a gravitational keyhole for later impact in 2036 dropped to one in a million. Unfortunately, it was not a zero probability and Apophis squeezed to the keyhole to humanity's greatest dismay. Exact scientific reports about how those calculations mistimed such heavily is still fuzzed but upon the impending sight over the years, priority wasn't on reasoning. It was about survival!
The world's largest superpowers agreed on the usage of nuclear power. Afterall, humans claimed for so many years about their intelligence and they refused to have their fate sealed in similar fashion as some reptile species were, millions of years ago. And thereby, mankind played their most important gamble on that 7th March. While, Apophis exploded under several nuclear rockets, the shockwave explosion created a mega-tsunami that ravaged nearly all countries found on the Pacific Rim. Several islands and including Australia were completely engulfed and met with a similar tragic end like the myth of Atlantis.
But despite Apophis' destruction, that day wasn't marked as the conquer of doom. Not due to the collateral damages but because a greater bane turned the very living of humanity upside down. People all around the world started losing one or more of their five perception senses.
That black day was named as the Isfet Impact!
The exact reason of the disappearance of the senses is still clouded in speculations. The most widely-spread theory is that the radiation, released after nuclear energy destroyed Apophis, triggered the first-ever mutation of neurons in history. Some theorists advance that the radiation isn't the real cause of the Isfet Impact and that, it is merely the particles in Apophis that caused this mutation. All to the way, where some theists even argue that this happened because mankind retaliated and did not accept the wrath of God as per His will. No antidote has ever been successful to revert this mutation.
This neuro-mutation had some more drawbacks but also some extraordinary super-advantages. The disadvantages was that this mutation also caused a genetic defect in all "infected" persons. As the life cycle kept going, all newer generations were carrying the symptoms. However, this genetic neuro-mutation - named Sensyl Mutation some months after Isfet Impact - created an unprecedented power.
Amidst the panic of the loss of taste or smell, or the frightening moment of blindness or dumbness or even numbness - a new light shone. Those people affected in different ways by the Sensyl Mutation, were losing some of their senses but were also gaining sharper senses in their remaining ones. As research moved on, it was found that the Sensyl Mutation was a coordinated change and had a trend.
For one specific sense that was lost, the other 4 senses were "upgraded". If 2 senses were lost due to the Sensyl Mutation, the other 3 senses were "upgraded further". This trend kept, to the point where one specific sense received ultimate ability, at the cost of the 4 other senses. Thereby, those trends in those "powers" were attributed names and numbers.
People unaffected by Sensyl Mutation had Percept Grade 0 while people with 4 lost senses had Percept Grade 4. Similarly, people with Percept Grade 0 had all their 5 Sensyl Values at 1. And Percept Grade 1 humans had 1 of their Sensyl Value at 0 and the other 4 senses at Sensyl Value: 2. This goes right till the rare Percept Grade 4 "people" that possess one of their ultimate sense at an all-time high Sensyl Value: 5.
Myths say that the reason, Japan is the greatest superpower country in today's time, it's because the only 3 "persons" in the world that got one ultimate Sensyl Value: 5, are Japanese. However, they are unseen to the common people, with rumors saying that they transcended their mere human stage by receiving the ultimate Sensyl Value: 5 and are now Godly divinities or deities of this world.
Whether Sensyl Mutation was a scourge or a boon is still questioned while it is also up to debate if Sensyl Mutation was an evolution, revolution or devolution of the senses. Whatsoever, humanity never remain the same since Isfet Impact. It's even said that the old mankind was indeed pushed to extinction since people with Percept Grade 0 - the once-normal people - belong now to a mere 7.3% of the world population.
Nonetheless, gradually a new stability was formed after some years of post-apocalypse feeling. Even if the secrets of Sensyl Mutation are still unfound, the functionality and understanding of Percept Grades and Sensyl Values were grasped as no abnormalities were reported as per public reports.
Mankind were reborn in new features from the ashes and over the years, world peace was seemingly attained.
Year 2117
In complete dark is suspended a man - blindfolded, arms chained to the ceiling and legs confined. In deep sleep, nearing footsteps follow him into the waking world as the cringing metal door is opened.
Guard: Hey, Prisoner No. 329, you've got a v....
Prisoner No. 329: ...a visitor, right, Azuma? I know you like to make opening speeches to accentuate my condition of parasite compared to your position...
Azuma: You bastar...
Prisoner No. 329: but even if I'm blindfolded, it is definitely not a recondite assumption to make that you are accompanied today. One doesn't need a Delphic mind to differentiate between footsteps sounds. Besides, Azuma, I doubt you have suddenly decided to use lavender perfume on that sweaty body of yours. And blueberry shampoo on your bald noggin head would be even more uncanny...
Azuma: You arrogant dic....
Prisoner No. 329: Don't get angry on your looks, Azuma. Besides, it's me who should be pissed. I'm hanging in S&M fashion since hours and not only do you wake me up, but you don't come with the plate of steamed rice and boiled potatoes to fill up my stomach.
Azuma: You should be grateful that I don't whip your ass right now. Anyways, if you will shut your loudmouth, maybe your visitor could talk. She is...
Ayumi: Allow me to introduce myself!
Prisoner No. 329: Oh, a young woman!
Ayumi: ... I am Ayumi Ijima - Chief Inspector of CIA! I'm here for you, Pr...Shindou, Kaede!
Kaede: ...
Kaede: And on what honors?
Ayumi: You shall know very soon...
~END OF PROLOGUE
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