Cygnus X-1

Growth of civilization has been augmented continuously by the colossal presence of technology. A hundred years ago, earth suffered devastating calamities and humans weren’t able to survive in it anymore. Humanity almost perished but a few skilled technologists came together to weave seven space stations that were capable of housing thousands, albeit a few. The space stations banded together to form a single massive station named “The Sanctuary”, where about 7,000 people lived. Resources were scarce and all crimes no matter their severity were punishable by death, unless the transgressor was under 18 years of age. After the Sanctuary’s life support systems were found to be deteriorating, 202 skilled military personnel were dispatched to one of the the nearest planets, a promising candidate for supporting life. The main mission of the military personnel was to scout a planet for a few strange creatures that were capable of resisting radiation and thriving in unfavorable conditions. Humanity had never forgotten to reclaim its lost home, hence various projects were launched yearly with the sole aim of finding a solution to earth’s biggest problem— extremely high level radiation. Project Helix was finally supported by the Assembly although it raised ethical concerns. The project focused on introducing animal genes into humans, with the belief that humans would be able to survive the harsh conditions of earth. Many problems were considered before the Assembly finally gave their support. Would the genes from these animals be compatible with the human genome? Would they be able to integrate into human cells and function as intended? How would the genes be edited and regulated to ensure they don’t disrupt other essential human genes or processes? Could introducing these genes have unintended consequences, such as altering human physiology, behavior, or cognitive abilities? Would the introduction of animal genes into humans raise ethical concerns, such as the potential for unforeseen side effects or the blurring of lines between species? Each one of these problems was enough to dissuade the upper echelons of the Assembly but the deteriorating life support systems was a major concern hence humanity decided to take a big risk, or perhaps a leap of faith. Let’s delve deep into this story so as to enjoy the alluring taste it has to offer, as Miguel Morien creates a new path for humanity, a path along which humans are able to fuse with the genes of beasts, thereby bringing out their lethality and battle prowess, further dazzling the entirety of the world with it.